'Missing prisoners handed over to intelligence agencies'

Punjab Chief Secretary's report to SC states prisoners were handed to agencies, while agencies deny report.


Express November 10, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Chief Secretary on Wednesday presented a report to the Supreme Court (SC) on 11 missing prisoners, which states that the prisoners were handed over to intelligence agencies.

The case of missing prisoners of the Adiala Jail was heard by a three member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The CJ has summoned the Attorney General (AG) at 1 PM and has asked for an intelligence report regarding the case. Earlier the SC rejected a report by IG Punjab Prisons on the illegal detention of prisoners' case.

Express 24/7 correspondent Faisal Shakil reported that the Punjab government claims the prisoners' custody was given to intelligence agencies. However, the AG representing the federal government said the agencies were contacted but they deny knowing anything about the whereabouts of the prisoners.

After this controversy, the CJ called for a Daily Situation Report which is prepared by a special branch of police. The police had reported that these prisoners were wanted in four cases: the General Head Quarters attack, the attack on former president Musharraf, the recovery of an explosive laden jacket and the attack on Hamza camp.They were found not guilty by a lower court, then later detained. The Lahore High Court held that those detentions were illegal.

The prisoners went missing when they were released from jail.

The CJ had directed the AG to sit with all officials and make a concrete statement as to the whereabouts of the 11 missing prisoners. The CJ had earlier refused to transfer this case to a bench and said that he would himself handle the case.

The AG had been directed to present 11 prisoners held on terrorism charges after the prosecution failed to prove charges against them. Jail administration had illegally held these prisoners after orders for their release had been given.

COMMENTS (5)

Kamil Bangash | 13 years ago | Reply My comment was for the sensible. I do not want to go into polemics since it would serve no purpose.
Romm | 13 years ago | Reply Kamil, Would u please elaborate ur Comment? I could not derive any sense from ur Comment.
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