Supreme Court (SC) of Paksitan has given a last chance to the government for production of 35 missing persons, within 24 hours who were picked up from Malakand internment center.
A three-member bench of the SC, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took up for hearing missing persons case Tuesday.
The court has made it clear on the attorney general (AG) that if no positive response was received from the government, explanation will be sought from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the governor and chief minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), adding that and contempt of court notice will be issued to them.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked, “We have run out of patience. We have burnt our boats. Implementing law and the Constitution is the only option left with us. Contempt of court notice has not been issued so far to authorities including the chief executive of Pakistan, on the hope that perhaps the government would take necessary steps for the recovery of the missing persons. It seems now, as if the government does not care for the missing persons. We are not satisfied with the replies of the federation and the province”.
He further observed that the missing persons will not return by constituting commissions upon commissions.
“We want the missing persons. Give reply within 24 hours. What the government is doing does not serve the purpose of redressing the grievances of people,” he said.
Attorney General (AG) Suleman Aslam Butt, KPK Advocate General Latif Yousufzai, Legal Director Muhammad Irfan, Amna Masood Janjua and Mohabbat Shah Brother of missing person Yasin Shah appeared in the court.
Justice Jawad said to the AG, “You had said that you would show progress”.
The AG replied, “We have set up fund for the family members of missing persons. Rs 100 will be given as fare charges and Rs 500 against the meal charges per each”.
Justice Jawad remarked, “Tell us about Yasin Shah. We had been showing patience so far. We have been waiting for legislation. We will say no more now”.
The AG said new commission in this regard has started functioning now and it will take minimum time. He presented notification in the court in the connection.