SC directs Secy Defence to provide details about missing persons

ISLAMABAD—Supreme Court (SC) has directed defence secretary to hold meeting with military intelligence agencies in connection with recovery of missing persons and present detailed report before the court on this count till October, 11.
The SC also accepted the request from defence secretary seeking one week time further. These directives were issued by a 2-member bench of SC which was hearing the missing persons case. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry presided over the bench.
During the hearing of the case CJP remarked court had received the evidence that missing persons were in the custody of intelligence agencies. If these persons were not recovered, the cases would be got registered against those found responsible in the light of these evidences and they would be got arrested, he further remarked.
If case was proved that any one had kept some missing person in his illegal detention then case would be registered against him, he said. He observed, “If we want to avert this situation then government will have to do something. Secretary of defence and interior secretary jointly should find out an immediate solution to this matter other wise uniformed generals who are chiefs of military intelligence agencies including ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) will have to appear before the court and they will be cross questioned.”.
Deputy Attorney General Naheeda Mehboob Elahi informed the court 15 more missing persons have been recovered. 12 among them are now free and cases are found registered against the three remaining persons. Efforts are underway for the recovery of rest of persons, she told. She further submitted court’s orders had been complied with in regard to Shah Zeen Bugti and his treatment had started.
Aasma Jahangir told the court it was strange methodology of the government that first of all some one is picked up and later he is beaten up mercilessly. Then directives are got issued from the court for his treatment. Representative of defence ministry Col Khalid Iqbal told the court ISI and MI fall under the administrative control of defence ministry. These agencies had informed the missing persons were not in their custody.
CJP remarked evidences were received in the SC majority of the missing persons were in the custody of intelligence agencies. Masood Janjua and others were also in the custody of these agencies. The missing persons be recovered, he further remarked. . Aasma Jahangir said the army is only left with this job to arrest the women and keep them under their illegal detention.
Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan inquired Hitlar notorious force Gustapo might not have done so despite the fact they were in a state of war. CJP remarked that evidences have been received about Masood Janjua and Faisal Faraz. It is better they be released, he further remarked.
He further observed who regulates intelligence agencies. If defence secretary says he can not do any thing, then we call chiefs of these agencies. The whole world will see this scene when a uniformed general will appear before the court and he will be cross examined. If defence secretary forces the court to do so then “ we will have to fulfill the constitutional obligations which rests with us. Then we will not be able to grant any concession, he remarked.—Online