Islamabad, 29 November, 2023 (GNP): Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan provided an update to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding the recovery of 22 out of 50 allegedly missing Baloch students.
During the hearing presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, discussions revolved around the implementation of recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, established in 2011 to address missing persons’ cases.
The recent court session followed a directive issued on November 22, where the court had instructed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to appear if the recovery of over 50 missing Baloch students wasn’t achieved.
AGP Awan informed the court of the caretaker Prime Minister’s absence due to an ongoing overseas trip, highlighting that 22 students had been recovered, while the whereabouts of 28 others remained unknown. He assured the court of continuous efforts to locate and bring back all missing individuals.
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Justice Kayani emphasized the fundamental rights aspect of the matter, expressing dismay at the situation prevailing in the country, where actions occur without accountability. The judge queried the involvement of foreign agencies and stressed the government’s constitutional obligation, as outlined in Article 4, to ensure the rights of individuals are protected under the law.
Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Human Rights Minister Khalil George were present during the hearing. Justice Kayani directed Minister Bugti to meet the families of the missing persons within two days to address their concerns directly.
Acknowledging the sacrifices of Pakistan’s security agencies, Justice Kayani stressed the importance of presenting individuals involved in anti-state activities before the court and warned of potential repercussions if missing persons were not recovered.
The court instructed the appointed focal person within the Interior Ministry to thoroughly investigate each case and provide a detailed report for the court’s review by the next session scheduled for January 10.