LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought information from the Interior Ministry about a Pakistani released from Bagram prison, a US internment centre in Afghanistan, and repatriated.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a petition of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) filed on behalf of the families of Pakistani citizens detained at the infamous Afghan prison.

JPP’s counsel Barrister Sara Belal stated despite being released from Bagram prison and handed over to Pakistan authorities in September 2014, Saifullah was yet to reach his home. She said his family had no information about his status or whereabouts.

She said it was a sheer violation of the high court order to the Interior Ministry to provide the families and legal counsel for Bagram detainees repatriated to Pakistan unfettered access to them.

Barrister Belal informed the court a list provided by the government of Bagram detainees was not detailed. In the past there had been instances where names of detainees released from Bagram were missing from the ministry of foreign affairs’ lists provided to court, she added.

She apprehended that there might still be Pakistani inmates who were given in the custody of Afghan authorities or to another US prison by US authorities after the closure of Bagram Prison.

Justice Shah directed the interior ministry to submit a detailed reply about the whereabouts of the missing detainee, Saifullah.

The judge also directed the foreign affairs ministry to provide an updated list of Pakistanis in US custody at Bagram prison. The hearing was adjourned till Feb 6.

Reply sought: The Lahore High Court has sought a reply from the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) director general on a petition challenging an investigation held into the purchase of science equipment for laboratories of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA former director general Dr Shagufta Shahjahan filed the petition and stated the ACE did not afford her opportunity of personal hearing. However, she said, the probe report wrongly mentioned that she was heard.

The petitioner asked the court to set aside the inquiry held by the ACE for being biased and unfair.

Justice Ayesha A. Malik heard the contention and sought a reply from the ACE DG and other respondents by Jan 29.

Published in Dawn January 27th, 2015

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