Missing persons case: Govt to meet forces chiefs, agencies, PHC told

Officials promise to take positive steps at the next hearing.


Our Correspondent May 03, 2012

PESHAWAR:


Senior government officials, including Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi, took a strong stand against enforced disappearances during a hearing at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday.  


Appearing before a two-member bench, Sethi said all court orders regarding the case would be implemented. She told the bench that the federal government would shortly arrange a meeting with chiefs of armed forces, intelligence agencies and other officials concerned over the issue of missing persons.

The bench hearing the case comprised Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Fasihul Mulk.

Besides Sethi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, army’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) Brigadier Nobahar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir and additional secretary for the interior ministry appeared before the court. “The respondents assured the court that the matter of enforced disappearance will be taken up by the federal government with the heads of armed forces and spy agencies and a strategy would be devised to the redress grievances of the relatives of missing persons,” the court’s order stated.

The order also said that the judge advocate general had told the bench that he would take action against officers of the armed forces found guilty of violating human rights.

The respondents said that human rights as enshrined in the Constitution would be prioritised, adding that positive steps would be taken before the next hearing scheduled for May 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2012.

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