Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Islamabad High Court (IHC) of making all-out efforts for recovery of missing persons, saying that he will not give any "lame excuse". "I cannot say that all of missing persons will be recovered, but we will leave no stone unturned," he said. "I will not give any lame excuse." He made these remarks before IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah during hearing of identical petitions seeking recovery of six missing persons, including journalist Mudassar Naaru.

At last hearing, Justice Minallah directed PM Shehbaz to ensure that missing persons whose cases were being heard in IHC were produced before court on September 9 and warned that failure to do so would require premier to appear in person on said date and give an explanation.

When PM Shehbaz appeared before court, Justice Minallah said he had been summoned as issue at hand was a big one. He recalled that court had referred matter of missing persons to federal Cabinet multiple times but Cabinet's response "had not been what it should be".

Making an apparent reference to former President Pervez Musharraf, he continued, "A chief executive ruled in this country for nine years. He proudly wrote in his book that we sold our people to foreign countries."

"This court is not an investigation agency," he further remarked. IHC CJ then noted that government had also constituted a committee a body that was set up in May on IHC's directives to deliberate a policy on enforced disappearances. But matter was not limited to a committee, he continued. "A commission was also formed for missing persons.

"Families of missing persons are sitting here. They revealed a lot of things about commission," he said, Justice Minallah stressed that state's responsibility should be fulfilled," regretting that in cases where missing persons were recovered, no further action was taken. He questioned who court should hold responsible for enforced disappearances. For his part, PM Shehbaz said solving issue was his duty.

Justice Minallah observed that there were several issues of governance that could only be resolved once "Constitution is restored". He observed that most law enforcement agencies came under interior ministry. Justice Minallah then termed practice of "making people go missing biggest form of torture" and a "deviation from Constitution".

PM Shehbaz said, "You can see our conduct in cases of missing persons." At that, IHC CJ observed that "committees were set up, assurances were given but no work was done".

"According to Constitution, if a citizen goes missing, state is responsible." IHC CJ said that "making people go missing is akin to violating Constitution". "Action should be taken against those who have violated Constitution," he said, adding that "take matters to parliament and legislate on them". India and other countries did same, he said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 10 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.