Govt to seek law ministry’s advice on SC missing persons’ order implementation

It is feared that there is going to be a delay in the implementation of the Supreme Court order in the missing persons case as the interior ministry has sought legal opinion on the implementation of the court order, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

According to sources, the interior ministry has resorted to the ministry of law and justice for advice on the Supreme Court directive.

Sources said that government will take action as per the advice of the law ministry.

Last week, the attorney general wrote a letter to the defence and interior secretaries. He wrote the letter for the submission of a signed written reply as demanded by the Supreme Court.

The letter referred to para 11 of the order of the Supreme Court dated January 3, 2024. The apex court has ordered that no person should be illegally disappeared from now on.

Sources said that an affidavit from the most senior officers of the relevant ministries was demanded.

The Supreme Court directed the federal government to submit a written reply on para 11 of its order.

Defence of Human Rights Chairperson Amina Masood Janjua and others have filed applications in the Supreme Court in the missing persons case.

During the Supreme Court hearing of the case on Jan 3, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the AGP if he was prepared to make a statement on behalf of the federal government that no person would be picked up illegally without due process of law. “Absolutely,” Awan replied.

“We want it in writing. Who will give the statement?” Justice Isa asked, noting that the court wanted people on the highest level to give the statement. “We want this on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. This country is fractured from within and part of it is derailment of democracy and that is a major cause.”

Reporter Awais Kiyani