Two missing persons died in custody, attorney general tells SC
The chief justice has ordered that missing persons be presented before the court by tomorrow.
Two of the missing persons died in custody, Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A Malik informed the Supreme Court during the hearing of the missing persons case. DESIGN: SIDRAH MOIZ KHAN
ISLAMABAD:
Two of the missing persons died in custody, Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A Malik informed the Supreme Court (SC) during the hearing of the missing persons case, Express News reported on Monday.
A three-member apex court bench - chaired by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry - is hearing the case in Islamabad. This hearing is regarding the 35 missing persons of whom two have died.
The chief justice ordered that the remaining missing persons be presented before the court by tomorrow.
The attorney general informed the bench that one of the deceased died in December 2012 and the other in July 2013. He also revealed that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had told him about the deaths of the missing persons last night.
The chief justice said that the deaths of these two people have made the case even more complicated.
He ordered that the names and other relevant details of the deceased be submitted to the court.
Chief Justice Chaudhry stated that a death in the custody of agencies is murder.
He also refused the defence minister's request to give more time to the government saying that not even a second more can be given in this regard.
The chief justice also questioned whether there is any law that is above the government as the government seemed helpless when it came to missing persons.
He also ordered that a case be filed for the death of the two missing persons. Cases should also be registered against the people who have taken the missing persons into custody, the chief justice further added.
“The people who have gone to the graveyard do not have any use for the legislation,” Chief Justice Chaudhry further stated.
Another SC bench had held two hearings of the missing persons cases in Lahore and ordered the defence minister and secretary to produce 35 missing persons or appear in person to “face the consequences”.
The chief justice had passed the order after defence authorities failed to produce the people on November 26 and sought more time.
Two of the missing persons died in custody, Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A Malik informed the Supreme Court (SC) during the hearing of the missing persons case, Express News reported on Monday.
A three-member apex court bench - chaired by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry - is hearing the case in Islamabad. This hearing is regarding the 35 missing persons of whom two have died.
The chief justice ordered that the remaining missing persons be presented before the court by tomorrow.
The attorney general informed the bench that one of the deceased died in December 2012 and the other in July 2013. He also revealed that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had told him about the deaths of the missing persons last night.
The chief justice said that the deaths of these two people have made the case even more complicated.
He ordered that the names and other relevant details of the deceased be submitted to the court.
Chief Justice Chaudhry stated that a death in the custody of agencies is murder.
He also refused the defence minister's request to give more time to the government saying that not even a second more can be given in this regard.
The chief justice also questioned whether there is any law that is above the government as the government seemed helpless when it came to missing persons.
He also ordered that a case be filed for the death of the two missing persons. Cases should also be registered against the people who have taken the missing persons into custody, the chief justice further added.
“The people who have gone to the graveyard do not have any use for the legislation,” Chief Justice Chaudhry further stated.
Another SC bench had held two hearings of the missing persons cases in Lahore and ordered the defence minister and secretary to produce 35 missing persons or appear in person to “face the consequences”.
The chief justice had passed the order after defence authorities failed to produce the people on November 26 and sought more time.