Missing Persons' Case: IHC orders to issue notices to sitting, ex PMs, home ministers 

On the missing persons’ case, Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Athar Minallah has given directions to issue notices of constitutional violation to all the sitting and former prime ministers and home ministers, 24News HD TV Channel reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the court heard the case and issued orders to produce six missing persons including Mudassar Naro on June 17. 

The CJ also issued a 15-page order seeking clarification from the federal government in case of non-presentation of six missing persons or failure of effective investigation.

CJ Athar Minallah directed the Home Secretary to place the court order before the Prime Minister and members of the Federal Cabinet.

The CJ ordered the federal government to issue notices to former president Pervez Musharraf and all subsequent prime ministers on the issue of missing persons.

As per the court orders, Pervez Musharraf and all prime ministers will submit their affidavits that why not take action against them for alleged violation of the constitution and should also explain why the unannounced policy of enforced disappearances endangered national security?

Why were enforced disappearances allowed to law enforcement agencies, especially the Pakistan Army, under an unannounced policy? 

Every chief executive should remove the impression and explain why he should not be prosecuted for serious treason.

In case of non-recovery of missing persons, the present and former interior ministers should appear before the court and the Attorney General assures the court that enforced disappearances will not happen in future.

The court said that in case of alleged enforced disappearances in future, why should not file criminal cases against the chief executives of the federation and the province concerned?

The federal government should take steps to make family members of missing persons aware of its plight and also ensure that there is no unannounced censorship in print and electronic media.

The court ordered to send a copy of this order to the Home Secretary for implementation. And, the federal government should consider the suggestions of judicial assistant Amna Masood Janjua and submit a report at the next hearing.

The court also said that Pervez Musharraf has written in his book that enforced disappearances were an unannounced policy of the state.