CJ IHC Athar Minallah criticizes Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances over its failure to recover forcibly disappeared persons

ISLAMABAD, June 23 (SABAH): Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Thursday criticised the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances over its failure to recover the forcibly disappeared persons.

During the hearing of a case pertaining to the recovery of Zahid Amin, who has been missing for eight years, and Sadiq Amin, who went missing a year ago, IHC CJ Athar Minallah said the commission failed to fulfill its responsibility.

The court directed the commission to submit a clarification as to why it failed to take effective action against the disappearances. The commission should also submit a report regarding why it failed to take action after its production orders for the recovery of the missing persons were apparently snubbed, it added.

In hindsight, it is apparent that the proceedings that followed the issuance of the production orders were merely a formality. “Why didn’t the commission give its recommendations regarding eradication of enforced disappearances to the federal government despite a passage of 10 years,” the court asked. As per the record, the commission has never sought proceedings in case its production orders were ignored, added the IHC.

CJ IHC Athar Minallah said the high court had said time and again that enforced disappearances were a heinous crime and added it was the responsibility of the commission to approach the families of the missing persons to facilitate them.

During the hearing, the commission registrar told the court that the joint investigation team (JIT) confirmed that Zahid Amin was disappeared forcibly. “If it was a case of enforced disappearances, to whom did you issue the production orders,” the court retorted. “Are production orders just a formality,” the CJ asked. He also questioned why the commission was not giving information to the petitioner.

Imaan Mazari, who was representing the families of the missing persons, informed the bench that a production order for the recovery Zahid Amin was issued on Sept 14, 2020. “Has the commission forgotten about its production order or those to whom the order was issued have refused to obey the directive,” the IHC CJ asked.

“Nobody has said no to the commission,” the registrar responded. “Did you seek proceedings against them for not complying with the production order,” the judge further asked. The IHC CJ sought a report on the non-compliance with the production orders issued by the commission and directed it to facilitate the families of the missing persons. The case has been adjourned till July 4.