Up to 700 held over terror links: AGP
Says suspects can’t be freed until end of army operations.
Says suspects can’t be freed until end of army operations
ISLAMABAD:
Intelligence agencies are holding at least 700 people indefinitely without trial in connection with the “war on terror”.
This startling revelation was made on Thursday by Attorney General Irfan Qadir, who told the Supreme Court the suspects were arrested in the semi-autonomous tribal belt, where the army has been fighting militants for around a decade. Qadir said none of the suspects could be freed until the end of operations in the tribal belt and declined to say how long they had been in custody.
During proceedings, counsel for the Adiala ‘missing’ prisoners, Advocate Tariq Assad, said he would file an application to confirm the status of these ‘unfortunate’ prisoners. However, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the seven suspects must be put on trial and holding them indefinitely violated their human rights.
“These people cannot be kept in illegal custody for an indefinite period because it is against the constitution and basic fundamental rights,” he said.
“We don’t say you should release them ... we want you to try them in accordance with the law,” he added, adjourning the case until January 28.
The Supreme Court has been investigating the fate of seven suspects who have been held without trial since 2007 even though a judge ordered their release in May 2010. The seven men who were arrested in the tribal belt in November, 2007, ‘disappeared’ after their release was ordered in 2010.
Fata secretary report
The court also expressed dissatisfaction over a report submitted by the secretary of the law and order of Fata Secretariat, Jamal Nasir, during the hearing. Nasir informed the court that hand grenades and weapons were recovered from the inmates, adding that they had also attacked an army convoy in Fata.
Advocate Tariq Asad, however, rubbished the possibility of weapons being recovered from the prisoners since they were in the agencies’ custody. The chief justice said the Inter-Services Intelligence had already submitted a written statement in court, saying no weapons had been recovered from the Adiala Jail inmates, adding that they could not be tried under the Army Act.
The attorney general went on to add that evidence against the prisoners had already been collected and their trial would be completed within a month, adding that the detainees would be tried under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
“Tell us under what law they have been detained for the last 15 months,” said the chief justice, asking the attorney general how the captives would be tried under the FCR when there was no proof against them.
“The agencies cannot detain anyone even one day without evidence,” he said.
The attorney general requested the court to grant him a week to review the status of the prisoners.
In February, 2012, the Supreme Court forced the ISI and military intelligence to produce the men in court. The men were in poor health, barely able to stand or talk, and they remain in custody to this day. There were originally 11 detainees but the court was told that four of them died.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2013.
Intelligence agencies are holding at least 700 people indefinitely without trial in connection with the “war on terror”.
This startling revelation was made on Thursday by Attorney General Irfan Qadir, who told the Supreme Court the suspects were arrested in the semi-autonomous tribal belt, where the army has been fighting militants for around a decade. Qadir said none of the suspects could be freed until the end of operations in the tribal belt and declined to say how long they had been in custody.
During proceedings, counsel for the Adiala ‘missing’ prisoners, Advocate Tariq Assad, said he would file an application to confirm the status of these ‘unfortunate’ prisoners. However, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the seven suspects must be put on trial and holding them indefinitely violated their human rights.
“These people cannot be kept in illegal custody for an indefinite period because it is against the constitution and basic fundamental rights,” he said.
“We don’t say you should release them ... we want you to try them in accordance with the law,” he added, adjourning the case until January 28.
The Supreme Court has been investigating the fate of seven suspects who have been held without trial since 2007 even though a judge ordered their release in May 2010. The seven men who were arrested in the tribal belt in November, 2007, ‘disappeared’ after their release was ordered in 2010.
Fata secretary report
The court also expressed dissatisfaction over a report submitted by the secretary of the law and order of Fata Secretariat, Jamal Nasir, during the hearing. Nasir informed the court that hand grenades and weapons were recovered from the inmates, adding that they had also attacked an army convoy in Fata.
Advocate Tariq Asad, however, rubbished the possibility of weapons being recovered from the prisoners since they were in the agencies’ custody. The chief justice said the Inter-Services Intelligence had already submitted a written statement in court, saying no weapons had been recovered from the Adiala Jail inmates, adding that they could not be tried under the Army Act.
The attorney general went on to add that evidence against the prisoners had already been collected and their trial would be completed within a month, adding that the detainees would be tried under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
“Tell us under what law they have been detained for the last 15 months,” said the chief justice, asking the attorney general how the captives would be tried under the FCR when there was no proof against them.
“The agencies cannot detain anyone even one day without evidence,” he said.
The attorney general requested the court to grant him a week to review the status of the prisoners.
In February, 2012, the Supreme Court forced the ISI and military intelligence to produce the men in court. The men were in poor health, barely able to stand or talk, and they remain in custody to this day. There were originally 11 detainees but the court was told that four of them died.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2013.