The Supreme Court on Monday turned down Interior Minister Rehman Malik's request for an in-camera briefing over the issue of missing persons and directed him to ensure their recovery, besides holding a control over the activities of secrete agencies.
The court observed that government had failed to address the serious issue of missing persons and target killings in the country, especially in Balochistan where bullet-riddled bodies were being recovered instead of tracing the missing persons. A three-member bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal was hearing cases of missing persons. The bench directed the minister to abide by the law. "No one is above the law, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and you Mr Interior Minister (Rehman Malik)," said Justice Javed Iqbal.
In his one-hour presentation to the bench, Rehman Malik requested the court again and again for an in-camera briefing. He told the court that missing of 6,000 persons is not true, as the figure is not more than 55. Out of the total 55, only 15 are chronic cases.
"Let us suppose the total number of chronic cases is 15," the bench observed, adding the government has not even been able to decide even a single case. "Mr Malik your presentation was impressive but there has been no progress so far," Justice Javed Iqbal said, adding: "I have been hearing this case for the last so many years but still could not see the desired results," he remarked.
Asma Jahangir, President Supreme Court Bar Association, submitted before the court that she wanted reply of her three queries. Under what law ISI was operating? Why the commission comprised three former judges of Supreme Court recommended trial for the missing persons in military courts? Under which law Rehman Malik and the secrete agencies were conducting raids on the houses of Jihadi families? Justice Javed Iqbal said there should be proper law that could define under which rule ISI - the premier intelligence agency is operating scot-free.