ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to ensure “recovery of more than 50 allegedly missing Baloch students” or else appear before the court on Nov 29.
A single-member IHC bench, comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the orders while hearing a case regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
Justice Kayani highlighted that even on the 21st hearing of the case, the court found itself at the same point. “We thought things would change gradually and people would return to their homes. And this was the responsibility of the state to ensure people reached their homes,” he added.
He mentioned that the prime minister, as well as the ministers for interior, human rights, and defence, would be summoned. “This was to be done by the executive, but the court is doing it.”
“Should we refer this matter to the United Nations and cause an insult to our country?” the judge asked, expressing concern about the increasing number of missing people.
He remarked, “The minister for defence and the minister for interior must be asked to appear before the court, as their appearance won’t make any difference.”
Justice Kayani stressed that 55 missing Baloch students must be recovered in light of the recommendations of the commission; otherwise, the premier must appear before the court on Nov 29.
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) was established in 2011 to locate the whereabouts of the missing persons and fix responsibility on individuals or organisations responsible for it.
In a similar case in September last year, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also appeared before the IHC after the court had issued similar directives.
In the hearing, he assured the IHC of all-out efforts for the recovery of the missing persons, promising that he would not make any “lame excuse”.
Caretaker Premier Anwaarul Haq Kakar, last month in an interview with BBC Urdu, had claimed that according to a UN sub-committee’s estimates, around 50 people had been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan.
“Sometimes, we receive complaints in which they give us 5,000 names claiming they are missing. [They are] not ready to accept any UN best practices on collection of data of missing persons,” the interim PM had said, adding the issue is used as a “propaganda tool” against the state.
The hearing:
At the outset of the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Usman Ghumman presented a ministerial report on the Baloch missing persons, a report that the court returned, expressing displeasure. “The prime minister and interior minister are from Balochistan,” said Justice Kayani. “They should be empathetic to this matter, considering it involves Baloch students.”
The court then summoned Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dugal and took a brief recess.
Justice Kayani mentioned that the case had previously been heard by former IHC CJ Athar Minallah, noting that a commission was formed per the court’s orders, and the matter of enforced disappearances was referred to the federal government.
