Reply sought in Bagram jail case

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Chief Justice on Tuesday ordered ministry of foreign affairs to furnish detailed reply on a petition seeking release of Pakistanis detained in Bagram jail of Afghanistan controlled by Americans.

Sultana Noon of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) had filed the petition contending that 141 Pakistani citizens were detained at the Bagram prison.

At the outset of hearing, a deputy attorney general informed the court that the Bagram jail was controlled by the US administration and Pakistan could not interfere in the policy of the prison.

He said the government could only initiate correspondence with jail authorities. JPP’s counsel Sara Belal argued that the Pakistan government had not been taking any step for the release and repatriation of its citizens imprisoned in the jail. She asked the court to direct the government to submit statistics of the imprisoned citizens.

After hearing arguments, Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah directed the ministry of foreign affairs to submit details about the Pakistani citizens detained in Bagram jail and cases against them. The court will resume hearing by October 27.

Bail rejected: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday rejected bail petition of former managing director of Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema facing a NAB reference on charges of alleged corruption and illegal recruitment.

Bench comprising Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf and Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar was hearing the bail petition.

The NAB alleged that Cheema misused his powers during his stint as MD Pepco and making illegal appointments in the company.