F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on Wednesday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that 22 missing Baloch students have been recovered and assured the court that the government would try its best to recover the remaining 28 Baloch students.
During the hearing of the case of implementation on the recommendations put forward by the commission formed for the recovery of missing Baloch students at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the AGP said that of a total 50 students, 22 had been recovered so far.
IHC judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani heard the case. Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, who had been summoned on the last hearing, Caretaker Minister for Human Rights Khalil George, petitioner Imaan Hazir Mazari, and families of the students appeared in the court. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, however, could not show up since he was abroad. AGP Awan told the court that the commission’s report had been sent to the federal cabinet for review. “The matter was then forwarded to the cabinet’s committee,” he informed.
Justice Kiani asked the interior minister whether he had read the report. “Yes, I have gone through it,” he replied. The judge remarked that the case under consideration was related to basic human rights. “It is so unfortunate that people here in Pakistan flout laws at will, and there is no accountability,” he regretted.
One should not forget, he further said, that all those who were missing were students. “After all, they all are citizens of this state; our compatriots.” Justice Kiani said people were pointing fingers at the security agencies. “Will somebody tell me whether these are the agencies of the enemy country which are involved in such practices?” he questioned.
He went on to say that under Article 4, it was incumbent upon the government to recover missing citizens. “It is an extremely important case. Parents are worried because their children are missing. It is an irony that FIRs are registered and then there is a complete silence,” the judge said, and made it clear that action should be taken against guilty individuals and institutions no matter however mighty and influential they were.
When questions were put to the government officials by the foreign media, he added, about enforced disappearances, they had nothing to say in their defence. The court ordered the interior minister to meet with the families of missing persons and compile a complete report. “It is the court’s duty to make you realize that you have to deliver and recover the missing individuals. Because these are you, only you who have to get the job done,” Justice Kiani remarked.
The judge questioned, was not it a failure on the part of the government that despite so much uproar created over the issue and tall claims being made, the result is nil? “Nobody denies the sacrifices given by the Pakistan Army and the security agencies for the country’s defence. But we must not forget that incidents like these constitute a serious breach of human rights. Take action against the persons who are involved in anti-state activities, but do produce them in the court,” he said emphatically.
“It will be a big relief if on the next hearing, families of these students say that their loved ones have returned to their homes,” the judge said. The interior minister assured the court that he would look into each and every case. He announced that he was nominating his ministry’s additional secretary as spokesman in the case. The court later adjourned the case’s hearing until January 10, 2024.
