Unending misery: SC seeks AG’s help in Biharis repatriation plea
Petitioner’s counsel says most families are living in subhuman conditions in Bangladeshi camps.
The petition was filed in 2009 under Article 184(3) of the Constitution but was returned by the SC Registrar who had said that the applicant should approach the proper forum instead. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Attorney General’s assistance over the repatriation of 300,000 Pakistanis (mostly Biharis), who are living in subhuman conditions in 70 camps set up across Bangladesh.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the petition filed by the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee of Bangladesh through its president Abdul Jabbar Khan.
The petition was filed in 2009 under Article 184(3) of the Constitution but was returned by the SC Registrar who had said that the applicant should approach the proper forum instead. Last month, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani heard the petition in his chamber against the registrar’s objection and decided to fix a date for preliminary hearing.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Nasir questioned whether the court had jurisdiction to ask parties about implementation of Tripartite Agreement between India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan on Normalisation of Relations in the Subcontinent, which was signed on April 9, 1974, in New Delhi. “Who is restraining them from coming to Pakistan”, he asked.
The petitioner’s counsel, Rashidul Haq Qazi contended that the stranded families were citizens of Pakistan and despite living in subhuman conditions they have always hoisted Pakistan’s flag. “They were offered the citizenship of Bangladesh but they refused to accept it”, he added.
Highlighting their condition, the lawyer said, “They were thrown out of employment and their services were terminated. Both moveable and immovable properties were either frozen by the government or looted by miscreants.”
“Conditions in the camps are wretched. Most of them are living in a 6x6 feet single room along with members of their family with no privacy at all,” he added.
The counsel informed the court that 160,000 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated under the Tripartite Delhi treaty signed between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1974.
Later on, due to the apparent lack of interest by Pakistani authorities, who failed to follow through the terms of agreement, repatriation was halted unilaterally during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government.
“The attitude of Pakistani rulers, political stalwarts and army generals has been deplorable towards the issue of stranded Pakistanis,” the petitioner’s counsel added as he concluded his arguments. The hearing was adjourned indefinitely.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Attorney General’s assistance over the repatriation of 300,000 Pakistanis (mostly Biharis), who are living in subhuman conditions in 70 camps set up across Bangladesh.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, heard the petition filed by the Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee of Bangladesh through its president Abdul Jabbar Khan.
The petition was filed in 2009 under Article 184(3) of the Constitution but was returned by the SC Registrar who had said that the applicant should approach the proper forum instead. Last month, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani heard the petition in his chamber against the registrar’s objection and decided to fix a date for preliminary hearing.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Nasir questioned whether the court had jurisdiction to ask parties about implementation of Tripartite Agreement between India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan on Normalisation of Relations in the Subcontinent, which was signed on April 9, 1974, in New Delhi. “Who is restraining them from coming to Pakistan”, he asked.
The petitioner’s counsel, Rashidul Haq Qazi contended that the stranded families were citizens of Pakistan and despite living in subhuman conditions they have always hoisted Pakistan’s flag. “They were offered the citizenship of Bangladesh but they refused to accept it”, he added.
Highlighting their condition, the lawyer said, “They were thrown out of employment and their services were terminated. Both moveable and immovable properties were either frozen by the government or looted by miscreants.”
“Conditions in the camps are wretched. Most of them are living in a 6x6 feet single room along with members of their family with no privacy at all,” he added.
The counsel informed the court that 160,000 stranded Pakistanis were repatriated under the Tripartite Delhi treaty signed between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1974.
Later on, due to the apparent lack of interest by Pakistani authorities, who failed to follow through the terms of agreement, repatriation was halted unilaterally during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government.
“The attitude of Pakistani rulers, political stalwarts and army generals has been deplorable towards the issue of stranded Pakistanis,” the petitioner’s counsel added as he concluded his arguments. The hearing was adjourned indefinitely.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.