CJ IHC Athar Minallah hints at summoning PM Shehbaz in missing persons case

ISLAMABAD, July 04 (SABAH): The non-recovery of missing persons despite judicial orders on Monday drew the ire of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, who warned of summoning the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for an explanation if the authorities still fail to implement the orders.

“It is a fact that nobody is doing anything [about it],” Justice Athar Minallah remarked during the hearing of identical petitions seeking the recovery of missing persons including journalist Mudassar Mahmood Naroo.

When asked how many people are missing, the deputy attorney general, while citing a report, apprised the court that out of 8,400 people, 600 citizens are still missing. “Many people are playing a double role in the case; they are playing from both sides,” he added.

Reprimanding the deputy attorney general, the court asked, “Then, what is the purpose of recruiting so many policemen?”

At this, PPP leader Farhatullah Khan Babar said, “So many people were picked up but it is not known yet who picked them.” “Which party do you represent? Has it ever been in government?” asked the court.

Babar said that he is affiliated with the PPP and it had been in the government. “When people were picked up in your government, then what did you do? inquired the judge.

Meanwhile, the court appointed Farhatullah Babar and Islamabad Bar Council’s member Advocate Abid Nazir as amicus curiae in the case.

Babar urged the court to make Mansoor Alam Commission report public. Stressing the need for summoning the prime minister, he said that calling other officers is useless in this case.

Justice Athar Minallah warned that Prime Minister should appear before the court on September 9 if the government fails to take any concrete steps. The chief justice further remarked that the court is giving a last chance to the state to steps and if nothing happens, the chief executive of the country will be summoned to court in person. However, deputy Attorney General assured the court that the state will take appropriate steps. Later, the court adjourned that hearing till September 9.