Missing persons: IHC orders serving notices to Pervez Musharraf, succeeding PMs

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the federal government to issue notices to former President General Pervez Musharraf and all other successor Prime Ministers in the missing persons case.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) a last chance to make arguments on constitutional violations in the cases and said the missing persons should be brought to court or justify state failure. .

While ordering the government to send notices to former President Pervez Musharraf and all other successors, the IHC said the country’s chief executives should explain why the court should not order proceedings against them for alleged violation of the constitution.

“Why shouldn’t the court take action against the unannounced approval of the enforced disappearance policy?

” the IHC Chief Justice asked, adding that Prime Ministers should explain why they cannot be tried for the crime of high treason.

Judge Athar Minallah also ordered the AGP to present six disappeared persons, including journalist Muadassir Naro, in court on June 17 or justify the state’s failure to effectively investigate their whereabouts.

The Chief Justice of the IHC further said that if the government did not recover the missing persons, current and former interior ministers should appear in court and explain why they should not be fined heavily.

The court also ordered the federal government to address complaints from families of missing persons and also ensure there is no unannounced censorship of print and electronic media.