Govt appears to be beneficiary of forced disappearances: IHC

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked in the case of missing persons that people are being picked up but the Chief Executive is not doing anything, it seems that the government is the beneficiary of forced disappearances.

Justice Miangul Hassan of IHC heard the case related to the recovery of Azhar Mashwani's two missing brothers. Babar Awan and Amna Ali, the lawyer of the petitioner Mashwani's father, appeared before the court.

Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal also appeared before the court.

During the hearing, the court inquired if anything was known about the case. To which the Additional Attorney General replied that even today they made a high-level contact, and all efforts are underway in every respect.

Babar Awan told the court in his arguments that five laws deal with sedition and incitement to sedition. It is not mentioned anywhere what is the national interest, if you ask me what is the national interest, then I will say reduce the price of electricity, and a Balochi person will ask for gas provision as it is in the national interest.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police (SP) from Punjab Police Lahore appeared before the court and told that CCTV footage has been provided by the family. Due to low resolution, NADRA or forensic agency could not detect anything. We got geo-fencing of 10,000 marks but nothing is known yet.

He said that till today August 23rd no actionable information has been received. The Safe City project is not able to cover from every angle, till that time no law enforcement agency could find anything in this regard.

Justice Aurangzeb remarked that it seems that the government is the beneficiary of forced disappearances. How come people are kidnapped in this country and the Chief Executive does nothing. The Attorney General had asked to brief the Prime Minister in this regard. The Chief Executive is aware of these issues but still people are forcibly disappeared.

Lawyer Babar Awan said that the Prime Minister does not have time to read the orders of this court.

The court inquired from the Additional Attorney General that since the case started in the IHC the investigation has stalled, to which he replied that the geo-fencing report has been prepared.

Justice Miangul asked when these two were missing, to which the police officer said that they had been missing since June 6.

The court remarked that it has been three months, and two persons are forcibly missing, we can imagine what their family is going through. People are being picked up but the chief executive is not doing anything. The court inquired that the Additional Attorney General, if anything came out of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Attorney General.

During the hearing, lawyer Babar Awan requested to summon the Prime Minister to the court, on which the court said that in the constitution, the head of the state is the Prime Minister while the head of the law is the Attorney General and we had called him to the court according to a process.

Justice Gul Hassan stated that if the government does not follow due process, then what can they say? All of this is leading to the defamation of the country. He adjourned the case till Tuesday.

The court directed the chief Joint Investigation Team (JIT) Superintendent of Police (SP) Lahore to submit the reports and said that the police have to see how the non-police wore the police uniform.

On this occasion, Babar Awan requested the court to pass a strict order, on which Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked that he will pass the order on this case.