Justice Ejaz Afzal on Monday said that the Supreme Court should be informed "in black and white" what the allegations against missing persons are.

A two-member bench of the SC was hearing an application filed by the chairperson of the Defence of Human Rights Organisation, Amina Janjua.

"If anyone has committed a crime, they should be punished," Justice Afzal said. "If an innocent is detained in internment centre, they should be released."

He added that anyone accused of a crime should be punished according to the law.

He also expressed irritation at the orders of the court not being implemented. "A report on missing persons was sought in the previous hearing," he recalled.

Justice Afzal also recalled that he had ordered a meeting to be arranged between a missing individual, Tasif Ali Malik, and his family, but the order had not been implemented. He again asked the authorities to ensure Malik meets his family within a week.

Janjua informed the judge that the Commission on Missing Persons had not provided the families of missing individuals with their report.

Tariq Asad, one of the petitioners' counsel, informed the court that security forces had attempted to frame some people, picked up from Rajanpur, in the Sehwan blast case. However, "Inspector General Sindh A.D. Khwaja saved one person from being framed in the case."

Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, the government's counsel, said that interment camps were a matter relating to the Home Department and the tribal areas. He added that he had not received any official report on the issue as yet.

The hearing was adjourned indefinitely.

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat worries
25 Apr, 2025

Wheat worries

PUNJAB’S farmers are enraged. They are not getting what they call a fair price for their wheat harvest this year...
Ending rabies
25 Apr, 2025

Ending rabies

RABIES remains one of Pakistan’s most deadly, yet neglected public health crises. Across the country, hundreds die...
Pahalgam attack
Updated 24 Apr, 2025

Pahalgam attack

Pakistan must proceed with caution and prepare a calm yet firm response to India’s allegations, and threats.
New IMF projection
24 Apr, 2025

New IMF projection

THE downgrading of the IMF’s growth forecast for Pakistan by 40bps to 2.6pc is perturbing, especially considering...
Stranded goods
24 Apr, 2025

Stranded goods

AS controversy over the new canals continues to rage, traders across the country have begun raising the alarm over...