Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has appeared before the Islamabad High Court in a case related to the non-recovery of Baloch students.

The hearing of the case related to the non-recovery of Baloch students has started in the Islamabad High Court, with Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducting the hearing. The caretaker premier has appeared before the court today after skipping his appearance despite being summoned by the court in the last two hearings.

On the previous hearing, the Islamabad High Court had ordered the caretaker prime minister, ministers, and secretaries to appear, while a three-member committee comprising intelligence institutions had also been formed for the recovery of the missing Baloch students. 

Apart from the caretaker prime minister, the interior secretary, caretaker federal Interior Minister Gohar Ijaz have also appeared in the high court. 

The hearing

At the outset of the hearing, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan told the court that four students were yet to be traced and could not be found yet, at this the students' lawyer, Advocate Imaan Mazari, said that according to her information, the number was nine.

Justice Kayani remarked that the court was looking at the case only to the extent of Baloch students. It has been claimed that some students have become a part of the TTP, some have returned home and others could not be traced. As the case progressed, some people returned. "The institutions are not above the law," he added. 

The court then asked if any new people, in addition to the old list, had gone missing. 

Kakar suggested not to profile the students on the basis of language, adding that there were flaws in the system; if there was no evidence, no one could be punished. "Paramilitary forces and counter-terrorism agencies are blamed, but I am explaining only about the missing persons. When asked about the missing persons, they give 5,000 names. They don't want this issue to be solved themselves. 

'One law, everyone has rights'

The court said that there was undoubtedly a war and the army and institutions were valiantly fighting, but the law is one and everyone has certain rights.

The caretaker PM said that the state should be saved from daily accusations, adding that they did not take up arms because the state had guaranteed their rights, and the Constitution guaranteed everyone’s security; the Constitution also bound them to be unconditionally loyalty to the state.

The court noted that no court was protecting any non-state actor. Abiding by the law is the duty of every citizen, and credit went to the government as only eight people were left out of 59. 

Justice Kayani then cited the example of journalist Matiullah Jan being picked up, saying there was no need to go to Balochistan as there were exampled from Islamabad also. At this, the prime minister remarked that action should be taken against anyone who took such a step.

Advocate Imaan Mazari rejected the impression that this case was part of any propaganda against the state. “We are also a part of the same state and never support terrorism. This is very painful for the families of the missing persons. It is unfortunate that when it comes to missing persons, the debate turns to terrorists,” she argued.

The AGP objected to the petitioner responding to the prime minister. At this, Justice Kayani asked to listen to her point first. The lawyer said they did not support extremism, but the reports of the commission stated that institutions were involved in enforced disappearances.

PM Kakar said he disagreed with the arguments of Imaan Mazari. Justice Kayani remarked that the responsibility of the court and the PM was to ensure the missing people reached their homes, adding that if the application was not processed, people would not have been recovered.

The AGP said the names of nine people who were in the custody of the CTD had been provided to the court. “We want the new government to come in and take some time.” At this, the judge said indeed, time must be given for the next hearing.

Later, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing of the missing persons case. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani directed the AGP to submit the report of the committee formed by the court.