ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the commission set up by the court under the head of Justice Mansoor Alam for missing persons, including a journalist Muddasir Naro, to submit its progress report and its terms of reference (TORs).

The court also summoned Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan on next date of hearing for assistance in the case. At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Athar Minallah, inquired about the representative of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disapearances (CIOED).

Additional Attorney General Qasim Wadood negatively answering submitted that that the court order was received late. However, he said that the court was informed about the measures taken by the government.

The court asked where was the commission’s report which was set up in 2010 by the apex court.

The additional attorney general said that the commission was made in light of the apex courts orders while TROs were introduced in 2013.

Additional attorney general said a total of 8,000 people went missing out of which 6,000 cases had been resolved. Some were returned themselves while many others were in jails, he said.

The chief justice observed that the cases of those citizens who went missing in 2016 were clear. What was progress in it, he asked. Chief Justice remarked that the court was asking that who was responsible of missing persons. This practice should be stopped now after fixing responsibility, he said.

The AAG submitted that he had asked the defence secretary to raise the matter in Mahira Sajid case with the federal cabinet.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2022