Missing Baloch students case: Long-term disappearances turning into issue of short-term ones, says IHC judge

ISLAMABAD: Hearing the Baloch students missing case, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the Islamabad High Court has observed that the issue of long-term disappearances is turning into short-term disappearances.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani was hearing the implementation case on the recommendation of the commission for enforced disappearance of Baloch missing students. Iman Mazari advocate appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while Additional Attorney General Munawar Duggal and Assistant Advocate General Usman Ghaman appeared on behalf of the state.

During the hearing, Justice Kayani inquired if any progress has been made by the committee comprising ISI, MI, IB, CTD and FIA officials.

The assistant attorney general requested time to file a progress report and submitted that the matter be adjourned after the Eid vacations. Justice Kayani observed that those who are missing should also have the opportunity to celebrate the Eid.

The petitioner’s counsel Iman Mazari submitted that she wanted to clarify that whatever statement is given in the court here, something else happens in Balochistan.

She said new cases of missing persons have also come up after the last hearing. She said Anisur Rehman was picked up from Khuzdar on June 5 and another student Anisur Rehman is still missing, while the rest of the students have been recovered.

Justice Kayani observed that now the issue of long-term disappearances is taking the form of short-term disappearances. The court inquired whether anyone has asked the policymakers about the matter at some level, and if the policymakers are not realising hatred against the state is increasing.

There must be terrorists among those missing, but whatever has to happen has to be dealt with in accordance with the law, Justice Kayani remarked.

Iman Mazari submitted that first the students went missing then they were handed over to the CTD and now this trend was increasing in the entire country.

Justice Kayani observed that every action has a reaction, and they (the authorities) do not know that such actions create hatred against the state.

The court observed that courts have so far only focused on the recovery of missing persons and they have not gone beyond the recovery of missing persons.