Release missing persons in a day, SC tells FC

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed police, FC and agencies to present a report regarding the missing persons by today (Tuesday).

During the proceedings of the missing persons case at the Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry, Chief Justice Iftihkar Muhammad Chaudhry said the missing persons who had been detained by the FC be released by today (Tuesday).

He said the former IG police had presented a report stating that the FC had detained several missing persons.

FC IG Major General Ijaz Shahid in his statement before the apex court said he had just taken charge and would evaluate each case. He added that if the missing persons were in the custody of the FC, they would be presented in court.

Justice Jawaad S Khawaja said that if their (FC) uniforms were being used [for abductions] the matter should also be taken into consideration.

The chief justice asked if the FC wanted their personnel to be presented before the court in handcuffs.

Earlier during the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that there were several expectations from the new government to resolve problems, but it could not do anything.

The chief justice further said the former government was better as they at least recovered missing persons occasionally.

The Balochistan chief secretary and other officials concerned also appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja asked the additional attorney general what the results were after the formation of commissions, task forces and meetings on the missing persons case.

The CJP asked what happened to the task force that was formed for the case. He said the rule of law and constitution should be upheld as people were already saying that there was no writ of the government.

As proceedings continued, the chief justice remarked that no one was above the law, and those who were facing cases pertaining to the missing persons should be arrested. “From an ordinary citizen to the president, everyone has to abide by the law.”

The apex court sought a written reply from the additional attorney general regarding the course of action the federal and provincial governments wanted to take regarding the missing persons.