Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the most vital of all matters was the “recovery of missing persons and if we have to abandon work at Islamabad for the sake of missing persons, we will abandon it”.
Hearing the missing persons case at the SC Quetta Registry, the CJP remarked, “Had any effective effort been made, at least four missing persons would have been recovered.”
The additional attorney general (AAG) told the court that the FC IG had held out assurance that he would hand over wanted FC personnel to CID.
“Success will soon be achieved in recovery of missing persons.”
The CJP remarked, “What hope can we nourish now when nothing has been done on this matter for three years.”
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked “There are several such cases with regard to which the federation yields no reply. We have to start the matter after six months where we leave it. Nothing has been done after the last six hearings.”
The CJP observed, “There are several cases wherein no cooperation has been extended to us. Some people are held by the FC and some by other agencies. Those who are with the FC be brought to public. If missing persons are involved in criminal cases, legal proceedings should be initiated against them.”
The court allowed two weeks to the police, FC and intelligence agencies in connection with recovery of missing persons, reiterating its ruling that keeping any one under illegal detention was a breach of human rights.
The court later adjourned proceedings of the case for two weeks.
