Citizens detained in Afghanistan: government directed to make efforts for recovery, repatriation

Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry here on Friday directed federal government to make efforts for recovery and extradition of Pakistani citizens detained in Afghanistan at American Airbase in Bagram and submit report by December 23. These seven included Awal Khan, Hamidullah Khan, Abdul Haleem Saifullah, Fazal Karim, Amal Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad and Younas Rehmatullah.
CJ observed, "Government is duty bound to provide protection to the lives of citizens and it should play its due role for the recovery of detainees." CJ passed these direction when Interior Ministry admitted in a report that they are detained at American Airbase in Bagram, Afghanistan.
In a reply submitted in the court in connection with a writ petition seeking their recovery, ministry further said they all were arrested from Afghanistan and none of them was picked from Pakistan. The whole episode of their arrest was also in the knowledge of Red Cross International.
The court was hearing a petition against abduction and extradition to foreign countries of seven Pakistani citizens detained at Afghanistan jail. Sultana Noon, a fellow of "Reprieve" in Pakistan, a UK based organisation dedicated to ensuring enforcement of human rights of prisoners, filed the petition through Advocate Salman Akram Raja.
Pleading case, petitioner alleged that they were abducted from the prison and handed over to foreign countries without any reason. Ms Noon contended that ordinary citizens of Pakistan who, for one reason or another, were suspected of being involved in any purported wrongdoings deserved to bed benefited from the presumption of innocence and due process rather then be handed over to foreign powers for rendition torture abroad. She alleged that Pakistani authorities played their role in the abduction and extradition of these citizens to foreign countries.
Petitioner, therefore, prayed that the respondent ministries be directed to make representation as required by law on behalf of abducted citizens of Pakistan held at Bagram jail and arrangements for their release and extradition to the country. She further prayed to the court to order registration of criminal cases against those involved in abduction of Pakistani citizens and their handing over to foreign countries.