Defence Minister Khwaja Asif says state aware of responsibilities
Apex court says no compromise to be made on recovery of missing persons
After an assurance by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that missing persons would be presented before the court today (Friday), the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing for another day.
On Thursday, the government failed to present the remaining 30 missing persons in the Supreme Court during the hearing of the missing persons case.
A three-member bench heard the case in Islamabad under the supervision of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Earlier, the chief justice said that from the first day, the court was not respected with regards to its decisions concerning the missing persons case.
He said the court would not tolerate mockery of justice. “Even if we have to sit on Sundays, we will do so. No compromise will be made on their recovery,” the CJP remarked.
Justice Jawad S Khawaja said the case of missing persons was “a trial of Allah for all of us and surely he tests his sincere people and we are not among those who are afraid of such trials. God willing, we will recover the missing persons”.
The CJP remarked that it was a constitutional responsibility of judiciary to safeguard freedom of citizens, but the state had not been fulfilling its responsibility.
Federal minister Khawaja Asif informed the court that the state was aware of responsibilities and had taken some steps.
CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry said it was wrong to hide facts from court, as everyone was a well-wisher of the country.
Justice Jawad said the FC personnel claimed in court that morale of force would be decreased if the FC IG appeared before the court.
On this, the defence minister said paramilitary forces fell under the Interior Ministry and the government could not discuss the issues in open court.
The CJP ordered the authorities to produce 30 missing persons, as the court could not apologise daily.
Defence Minister Khwaja Asif promised the court that he had spoken to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and that he would relay good news regarding the missing persons case to the registrar today (Friday).
In response, the chief justice said the registrar was not a judicial officer and the good news should be shared directly with the court.
After being assured by the PM through the defence minister, the chief justice said the PM had also become involved in the matter and “we are hopeful that the defence minister would not embarrass the head of the state”.
Attorney General Munir A Malik said that it seemed the government wanted to give a surprise.
To this, the CJP said, “We have seen so many surprises that nothing seems a surprise anymore. We will give them one more chance.”
Khwaja Asif said the missing persons were not in the custody of the government, adding that efforts were underway to find them.
He said that he would present some persons before the court on Friday.
The defence minister informed the court that the status of five to seven people was known, but information could not be exchanged in public due to its crucial nature. He requested an in-camera briefing due to the sensitive nature of the case.
Responding to the request, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry asked the minister to first produce the 30 missing persons and then an in-camera briefing would be held in judges’ chamber.
The CJP added that all thirty missing persons should be presented in the court, otherwise “we would issue a verdict”.
The defence minister reiterated that all missing persons would be presented today (Friday).
There is always something between compromise and action….
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