The Lahore High Court here on Monday summoned secretary interior to apprise about the whereabouts of six Pakistani citizens repatriated from Bagram theatre Internment Camp Afghanistan. The court on previous hearing had sought details of the released and repatriated detainees from the Interior Ministry, however, a standing counsel sought more time for the purpose.
The counsel said that after the previous order of the court issued on November 21 last the Interior Ministry had only one working day to obtain the required information on the whereabouts and state of the repatriated detainees.
The court turned down the request and observed that seeking more time was the state's strategy of delaying proceedings. The court admonished the ministry for employing delaying tactics and termed it a cruel act.
The court also expressed dismay over the ministry for not informing the families, the lawyers and the court about the repatriation of the detainees after they were released from Bagram.
The court lamented that the information about the release of the detainees came to the knowledge of the court through a letter submitted before a US Court of appeals instead of through Pakistan government itself.
The court, therefore, directed the secretary interior to appear in person before the court on Tuesday along with compete details about the repatriated detainees.
On last hearing Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed the release and repatriation of the six Pakistani citizens. However, it said their current whereabouts and status was under the authority of the ministry of interior.
Justice Project Pakistan, filed a petition for the release and return of Pakistani citizens detained at the Bagram jail by US. It submitted that Pakistani citizens had been detained at Bagram jail without any charges since 2003.
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