SC displeased with slackness in missing persons case

The SC said non-serious attitude of the government with regards to recovery of missing persons is not acceptable.

A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Justice Mian Shakir Ullah Jan took up the case for hearing Tuesday.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) KK Agha told the court 134 out of 382 missing persons had been recovered while 138 persons were being traced out. The chairman of the commission will soon be appointed, he added.

The court issued directives for appointment of the commission chairman within a week and questioned why chairman had not been appointed so far while government was given only one-week time in this connection.

The chairman of the commission be appointed forthwith, the court directed.

The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) told the court cases of 10 missing persons were very old and efforts were underway to trace out. Seven missing persons who were incorporated in another list of missing persons had been traced out, he said.

The Defence Ministry had constituted a special committee which was investigating the old cases, he said.

He submitted that Justice (Retd) Fazlur Rehman, chairman of a two-member inquiry commission, had joined the Election Commission and new chairman in his place would be appointed soon.

Justice Jawad S Khawaja expressed displeasure over it, saying Justice (Retd) Fazlur Rehman had joined the Election Commission six months ago.

KK Agha said the Interior Secretary remained preoccupied due to the Karachi situation due to which the delay occurred. One-week time be allowed and the chairman would be appointed, he pleaded.

Justice Shakir Ullah Jan observed it was responsibility of the government to trace out missing persons.

KK Agha said statistics were being collected about the missing persons in Balochistan and intelligence agencies were not involved.

Justice Shakir Ullah Jan said: “You should file a written reply”. KK Agha said a written reply would be filed within a week.

Aamna Masud Janjua, chairperson Defence of Human Rights, said no commission was working with reference to missing persons.

LHC reserves ruling in law secretary appointment case

The Lahore High Court has reserved its judgment in a petition seeking termination of a writ against the law secretary’s appointment, Dunya News reported on Monday.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri and the federal government in separate petitions contended that the writ was non-maintainable and should be dismissed.
Deputy Attorney General said that the petition carries objectionable content. He said no legal justification was given for the removal of Law Secretary Masood Chishti.On the other hand, the petitioner maintained that Masood Chistis appointment should be declared null and void as he was hired on political grounds.

Taliban commander among three militants killed in Swat

Staff Report

SWAT: Security forces have killed three militants, including a Taliban commander during an operation in Malam Jabba region of Swat, said sources Tuesday.

According to sources, security forces, over the report of militants’ presence, conducted an operation in different areas of Swat.

An exchange of fire took place during which three militants including a commander named Abdullah and his accomplice were killed in Malam Jabba area of Charbagh district, Swat. SAMAA

Center, provinces playing with fire, says LHC

Staff Report

LAHORE: Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed of the Lahore High Court has remarked that center and provinces have been playing with fire with no idea of its consequences.

He made these remarks while hearing a petition challenging the delay made by the government in holding local government elections.

The petition was filed by Local Council Association (LCA) against the postponement of local government elections.

Justice Saeed said if the government did not change its attitude, he won’t hesitate to give a proper verdict in this case.

The deputy attorney general sought adjournment of the case so that he could seek guidance from the federal government. On this, Justice Saeed said this attitude is not appropriate. SAMAA

LHC seeks Malik’s remission notification

The Lahore High Court Thursday ordered the government to present presidential notification regarding condoning of Interior Minister Rehman Malik jail sentence awarded by an accountability court and upheld by a bench of the high court last week.
A petition was moved in the LHC on Wednesday challenging the presidential pardon granted to Malik against his conviction in two corruption references. Save Judiciary Committees media adviser Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi filed the petition in which Malik, the federation through the Interior Ministry secretary; the principal secretary to President Asif Ali Zardari and the chairman of NAB Islamabad have been named respondents.
The petitioners lawyer Barrister Farooq Hassan submitted that the remission of Maliks sentence by the president under Article 45 was illegal, saying such a pardon was legal if an accused had exhausted all legal remedies.
A single member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, ordered the Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan to present the notification issued by the presidency before the court on May 28, the date set for next hearing, to ascertain its legality.
Hassan had said in his petition that if someone was convicted by a court, he had the right to file an appeal against the sentence in the Supreme Court, and if the petition was not heard by the apex court or the decision was upheld, he could file a mercy appeal with the president. The lawyer said the minister had not approached the Supreme Court in this connection, adding that there was no justification for the remission as Malik had not filed any mercy petition and the purported pardon was against the due process of law.

Justice Azmat Declines to Hear Case on Zardari’s Dual Office

LAHORE, Pakistan News: Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh of Lahore High Court has refused to hear the case challenging dual offices of President Zardari.
Earlier, a five-judge bench has been formed comprising Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, Justice Iftikahr Hussain, Justice Iqbal Hameed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial to hear the said case. Justice Azmat gave the plea that he used to be President Zardari’s counsel. However, after the refusal of Justice Azmat, the case has been sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General asked the court to adjourn the case, saying that the Attorney General could not make to the court due to his preoccupations. The court put off hearing till March 15.

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Justice Azmat Declines to Hear Case on Zardari’s Dual Office was first posted on March 2, 2010 at 6:42 pm.

President Of Pakistan Dual Office: Justice Azmat Pulls Out Of Bench

Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh of Lahore High Court has refused to hear the case challenging dual offices of President Zardari.

Earlier, a five-judge bench has been formed comprising Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh, Justice Iftikahr Hussain, Justice Iqbal Hameed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial to hear the said case. Justice Azmat gave the plea that he used to be President Zardari’s counsel. However, after the refusal of Justice Azmat, the case has been sent to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General asked the court to adjourn the case, saying that the Attorney General could not make to the court due to his preoccupations. The court put off hearing till March 15.

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President Of Pakistan Dual Office: Justice Azmat Pulls Out Of Bench was first posted on March 2, 2010 at 12:51 pm.

Missing Persons’ Case: List Of Pakistani Captives Filed In Supreme Court

The Foreign Ministry has submitted a list of imprisoned Pakistanis in some nine countries abroad in Supreme Court today.
During the hearing of missing persons’ case, Justice Javed Iqbal asked about the efforts country’s ambassadors have so far made to get the held Pakistanis released. The Foreign Ministry told the court that around 204 Pakistanis are under captivity in Afghanistan, 15 of whom are detained in Bagram base. Justice Javed Iqbal remarked that scores of Pakistanis were detained as they have no money to pay the fine, and added that had the Supreme Court not asked for, these details would not have been come in limelight. He noted that under Vienna Convention every country is bound to inform about the foreign captives to the concerned country. Advocate Hashmat Habib argued in the court that the government is trying to conceal realities from the court regarding Dr Aafia’s case. Justice Javed remarked that under the US law, testimonies could be presented at any stage of the case. Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar gave plea in this regard that the suggestion to give more details to US came very late.

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Missing Persons’ Case: List Of Pakistani Captives Filed In Supreme Court was first posted on March 2, 2010 at 11:54 am.

AG bans political activities at office

TrendPK.com LAHORE: The political activities have been banned at the offices of Attorney General.
A letter in this connection has been issue from the Attorney General to Deputy Attorney Generals that there should be no political activities at the office.
The AG issued the order taking notice of sacrifice of goats for the health [...]

Yousuf sees ‘a player’ behind team disunity

TrendPK.com KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Team Captain Muhammed Yousuf signaled the cause behind the bad performance of the team in the latest series with Australia, saying only one player is spoiling the atmosphere of the dressing room.
Talking to Geo Super in its program, the skipper said he had informed Coach Intikhab Alam about [...]

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