ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday ordered the production of 14 of the 35 missing persons before it tomorrow and the remaining 11 on Monday.
A three-member-bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Ameer Hani Muslim was hearing the case pertaining to the missing persons.
During the course of hearing, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented the details of 35 missing person in the court but the court expressed its dissatisfaction over the report and ordered the production of 14 of the 35 missing persons before it tomorrow and the remaining 11 on Monday.
The defense minister said that investigation regarding other five persons is underway and hopefully they will soon be located.
Khawaja Asif said that according to information received so far eight persons are in Kunar province of Afghanistan‚ while three are in South and North Waziristan region. He said that the missing persons who were released by the security forces later cross the border and went to Afghanistan.
The minister said that seven among these missing persons can be presented before the court anytime‚ however‚ there is no information regarding other seven persons.
The apex court was informed that none of 35 missing persons is in the custody of army, upon which the chief justice observed that proof of handing over of the missing persons to the army is available.
The chief justice furthermore inquired as to how the 35 persons who were picked up together by military personnel manage to get dispersed. He remarked that the information provided to the court are merely speculation and ordered the production of all missing persons in court.
