The Supreme Court (SC) observed on Wednesday that Article 9 of the constitution had been violated, as heirs of the missing persons were not compensated well in time. A three-member bench headed by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan was hearing identical petitions filed by heirs of missing persons.
During the course of hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) K. K. Agha presented a report before the bench pertaining to schedule of payment of compensation to the families of missing persons. Agha informed the bench that government had already paid compensation to most of the families of missing persons, whereas remaining would be given compensation on monthly basis.
However, the court rejected the report and summoned the Secretaries of Law and Human Rights Division to appear before the court on next date of hearing. On the occasion, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja expressed displeasure and said that no satisfactory measures were taken by the authorities concerned for recovery of missing persons. The bench also directed K. K. Agha to assist the court in the case.
K. K. Agha reiterated the spy agencies claim that missing persons were no more in their custody, which prompted Justice Khawaja to say that how can the court proceed if they [missing person] are not their custody. K. K. Agha replied that the commission was recording the statements of missing persons' heirs but they were reluctant to appear before it for reasons best known to them.
During the proceedings, father of one, Muhammad Idrees, who has allegedly been picked up by spy agencies from Murree, informed the bench that police had arrested his son but now he had disappeared from the police station. He further informed the bench that one of his son's friends was also picked up from Rawalpindi, who had been released after 10 months detention. Justice Jawwad remarked that everybody should have fear of God because actions of the existing life would be accounted in life hereafter. The court adjourned further hearing till November 16.