IHC summons PM Kakar on Nov 29 if 55 missing Baloch students not recovered

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to appear before the court on Nov 29 if 55 missing Baloch students are not recoverd.

In the hearing a one-page six-point report was submitted to the court by Assistant Attorney General for Pakistan Usman Ghuman.The report was comprised by three ministers and was formed by the federal government.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani expressed displeasure and rejected the report of the committee set up to look into the matter.This report is a matter of shame for this court, he remarked.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani summoned Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, minister of human rights and the defence and interior ministers as well as the secretaries from ministries and has sought a report from the federal government committee within a week.

The orders came during the hearing of the implementation of recommendations of the Baloch Enforced Disappearance Commission. Advocate Imaan Mazari had moved the IHC on the matter.

The lawyer for the missing persons, Imaan Mazari, informed the court that even while this matter was pending before the court more Baloch people have been ‘forcibly disappeared’.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani told Additional AGP Dogal that it was conducting the 21st hearing of the case and that it was earlier being heard by former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah. Justice Mohsin said that a commission was then formed following court orders and questions were put forward.

“The commission included a lot of high-profile people, everything was documented, questioning why there was still no progress in the case.“The real purpose of the commission was to recover those who are missing,” Justice Kayani added.

“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.