SC issues notices to ISI, MI and Defence Ministry to submit replies

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued notices to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and the Ministry of Defence to submit replies within two weeks on the Adiala Jail missing prisoner’s case.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took up the proceedings of the missing prisoner’s case. Tariq Asad, counsel for the missing prisoners Abdul Majid and Abdul Basit, told the court that the ISI and MI were prosecuting the missing prisoners of the Adiala Jail under the Military Act, which is against the law.
He said that his clients had filed an application before the internment authority which had been rejected. Justice Jawad S Khawaja remarked that prisoners used to be treated in a good manner during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and the interment authority should treat its prisoners according to the laws. He added that the court would not tolerate any inhuman and illegal action against the prisoners.
The CJP remarked that earlier these prisoners had been treated inhumanly, and the court could not close its eyes. He added that if these prisoners were terrorists, then they should be hanged otherwise they should be released. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general told the SC that better medical facilities were being provided to the prisoners following the court’s directions, and that the inmates’ health was also improving. The prisoners’ lawyer requested the court to stop spy agencies for prosecuting missing persons under the Military Act, and order for their release. After issuing notices to the ISI, MI and the Defence Ministry, the court adjourned the hearing for two weeks. Eleven civilians had been picked up from Adiala Jail by intelligence agencies after they had been acquitted by a court.