Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that no one should remain under any delusion, as the court was fully cognisant of its powers and knew how to exercise them.
He gave these remarks during course of hearing of missing prisoners of Adiala prison case.
FATA Secretary Jamal Nasir, Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir and counsel for petitioners appeared in the court.
The CJ admonished Deputy Attorney General Ali Zai for coming in the court late, saying the “court starts functioning from 9am and you people reach your office at 11am. Punctuality of time norms should be followed in the future”.
The AG told the court that applications in respect of seven persons had been received in connection with their release from the detention centres.
However, medical check-up of all persons would be carried out first and their applications would be decided later.
The CJ said, “It seems you have got no evidence, therefore, you are talking in this fashion.”
The AG said, “You will also have to see if the court is empowered to hear this case in the perspective of FATA.”
The CJ said, “Don’t tell the court about its powers. We fully know what our powers are. The court knows how to exercise its powers. Do you us to remain silent while innocent people get convicted. Injustice will not to be allowed. The missing persons matter is highly sensitive. The court cannot shut its eyes to it. No evidence came forward for putting Adiala jail’s missing prisoners to trial”.
FATA Secretary Jamal Nasir told the court that medical check-up of all prisoners had been completed and reports had been sent to the governor. “The court can summon these reports from the governor,” he said.
The CJ said, “We know nothing more. You please provide the revised reports and all the record to the court.”
The hearing of the case was adjourned until February 26.
Court knows well its powers, says CJ
