ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry said on Monday that no one should think that the issue of missing persons will cease to exist after his retirement, DawnNews reported.
The chief justice passed these remarks during the hearing of missing persons’ case.
“I still have 60 hours left and these would be equivalent to 60 years,” he said.
On Monday, the Supreme Court resumed the hearing of a case relating to the enforced disappearance of Yasin Shah and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Attorney General Munir A. Malik appeared before the bench.
During the hearing, the Defence Ministry submitted a report on missing persons in the Supreme Court of Pakistan during a hearing.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Attorney General Munir A. Malik appeared in the court.
The defence minister in his statement said that the Supreme Court’s order was not implemented completely and details of all missing persons have not been provided.
He further said that there was no intention for contempt of court.
On this, Justice Jawad S. Khawaja said that actions expressed intentions better.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General said that two close relatives of prisoners killed could be presented in a close-door hearing.
However Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudry said that daily closed door hearings were not possible.
The CJP further said even the UN has criminalized enforced disappearances.
“Under Article 245, the parameters of the military and civil authorities have been defined clearly. If the prime minister wants, the issue can be solved in 24 hours,” he said.
Acting Defence Secretary Maj Gen (retd) Raja Arif Nazir said that 7 ‘missing persons’ have been sent to rehabilitation centres while another five will be presented in court tomorrow (Tuesday).
The attorney general said that under PATA regulations, military carries out hearings and pleaded that there should be no ruling that would affect the operations or arrests.
“Under what laws are these people being detained,” the CJP questioned.
“There is no law that allows enforced disappearances in the country. If there is a need for someone to be picked up, then the prime minister must get it legislated. All that is happening is illegal,” the CJP said.
The hearing of the missing persons’ case will resume tomorrow.
