Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday ordered the Defence Ministry to arrange the meeting of a person reportedly in the custody of the security forces with his family members till May 13, saying the law does not prevent any detained citizen from meeting his family members.
The apex court expressed grave concern over non-arranging of meeting of Tasif Malik with his family members. Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked: “Has the situation taken such a turn that meeting of the family members cannot be arranged with the missing person? Law does not prevent any detained citizen from meeting his family members.”
He gave these remarks while presiding over a three-member bench of the SC during the course of hearing.
Additional Attorney General (AAG) Attique Shah, Colonel (r) Inamur Rahim, counsel for Abida Malik, wife of Tasif Malik, and Law Ministry Deputy Director Irfan appeared in the court.
Attique Shah told the court that arranging such a meeting in the prevailing situation was impossible. We will have to wait for some time in this respect. The court expressed its annoyance over this, remarking that the situation was not so adverse that meeting cannot be arranged.
The deputy director of the Law Ministry objected to appearing of Colonel (r) Inamur Rahim as counsel in the SC and told the court that he was not a lawyer of the SC, therefore, he could not appear in this case.
The court blocked Inamur Rahim from pursuing the case and allowed the petitioner to engage a new lawyer.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till May 13.
