IHC orders appointment of missing persons commission chairman within 4 weeks

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday ordered for appointing chairman of missing persons commission within four weeks.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani issued this directive while hearing the petition of the wife of a missing citizen Omar Abdullah. The court directed for completing the process of approving financial assistance to the applicant within two weeks after the induction of the new chairman. 

Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez told the court that approval for financial assistance for the applicant had been accorded, adding: “We will be able to move forward the proceedings in connection with financial assistance when new chairman is appointed”. Chairman of missing persons commission is also the head of financial assistance committee. The court inquired as to how long the process of appointment of the commission chairman will take, to which AAG sought six-week time. Justice Kiyani directed to bring cheque on next hearing. 

The judge called the son of missing person Omar Abdullah and got him seated on chair. 

“The tragedy is that this child has not seen his father for so long and nothing is being told about him,” he remarked. 

Justice Kiyani said the court had issued order for sharing information regarding missing persons, adding: “I want in-camera briefing from the representatives of the committee of intelligence agencies”. Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till June 24.