Despite repeated warnings of strict action by Supreme Court, the spymasters of country's top three spy agencies on Wednesday submitted written statements to registrar Supreme Court, saying 'they have no idea of missing prisoners' whereabouts.'
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court in its previous hearing regarding missing of eleven prisoners from the premises of Adiala jail after acquittal by an anti-terrorism court, had summoned the heads of sleuth agencies to appear before the court.
Chief Secretary Punjab had informed the Supreme Court that the prisoners were in the custody of the sleuths and had substantiated his claims by providing documentary proof in this regard. Afterwards, the representatives of intelligence agencies had tried their level best to meet the chief justice in private but the apex court chief bluntly declined to meet them and asked them to appear before court if they have anything to prove.
The steps taken by the court to summon the spymasters of ISI, IB and MI, who are usually thought to be acting on their own free will, was highly appreciated by all and sundry including the newly elected chairperson of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Asma Jehangir.
The spymasters, in their statements, submitted to the registrar office of Supreme Court, have claimed that the intelligence agencies had nothing to do with the missing prisoners and they cannot be made respondents.
The first ever bold step of its kind in the judicial history of the country by Chief Justice Ifikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, asking the powerful bosses of intelligence agencies to clear their positions before the court, had brought a sigh of relief to those people, whose near dear ones missing are thought to be picked up by the sleuths.
There is a common perception in the country and elsewhere in the world that a large number of innocent citizens have been picked up by these spy agencies for their alleged involvement in terror related activities, which were rarely proved true.
Justice Chaudhry, the top judge of the country, who is known and well respected throughout the world, has a track record of calling a spade a spade, had already warned that whoever is found involved in kidnapping of the prisoners, will have to kiss the dust.
The eyes of near and dear ones are focused on the Supreme Court as a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is all set to hear the case today (Thursday) - let us see what cat comes out from the bag.