Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan of Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin negotiations with the US and Afghanistan to bring the Bagram detainees back home. “There are no serious allegations against the prisoners detained at Bagram and the report submitted by the government shows that nothing has been done to bring them back,” the judge said, adding “the citizens’ rights to a lawyer and a fair trial are being compromised.”
Justice Khalid noted, “In these circumstances, respondents are directed to commence negotiations with the governments of Afghanistan and the US for bringing these detainees back to Pakistan for their trial, if any, according to law. The respondents are directed to submit a report within two months from today.” Barrister Sarah Belal, welcoming the development, said it was about time that the institution of the country stood up for the rights of the people. The next scheduled date of hearing is March 21.
