Arrest of suspected militants: government asked to produce 12 accused before magisterial court

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif here Friday directed federal and Punjab governments to make necessary arrangements for the production of 12 arrested Afghan Taliban, suspect terrorists, before magisterial court as required under the law.
The CJ passed these orders while hearing two identical petitions challenging possible extradition of 12 arrested Afghan Taliban after their counsel pointed out that they had not been produced before a court of law adjourned the proceedings to April 12 next.
"Additional advocate general, presenting Punjab government and deputy attorney general presenting federal government, are directed to get the needful done in line with the submission made by the petitioner's counsel", CJ said in his order.
The petitions were filed by a human rights activist Khalid Khawaja. The petitioner contended that under the constitution, an arrested person should be produced before the magisterial court within 24 hours of his/her arrest while the same constitutional provision had not been implemented in the instant case.
Earlier, the interior ministry submitted reply before the court that it has no concern with the matter and its name might be deleted from the list of the respondents. At this, the DAG submitted that as far as ministry of defence was concerned, the petitioners had not impleaded it as a necessary party in the petition.