ISLAMABAD: On Sunday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a comprehensive 4-page written order in response to its earlier directives, emphasizing the mandatory presence of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and secretaries from relevant ministries at the upcoming hearing on Monday concerning the missing Baloch students case.
The order, articulated by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, unequivocally outlined that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in conjunction with the ministries of defense, human rights, and interior, alongside the corresponding secretaries, must ensure their physical attendance at the scheduled hearing, set for 10 am on February 19.
During the previous hearing on February 13, the court had explicitly directed the interim premier to appear before the bench. Despite the assistant attorney general’s plea to adjourn the hearing, citing the unavailability of the attorney general, the court firmly rejected the request.
Notably, Justice Kayani articulated a stern view, suggesting that the death penalty should be imposed on those found involved in enforced disappearances. He emphatically stated, “People involved in enforced disappearance should be given the death penalty twice,” and subsequently called upon the caretaker PM to personally elucidate why a case should not be registered against him.
In response to the government’s plea for more time, the advocate general sought an extension in the case. However, Justice Kayani remained resolute in refusing to entertain the government’s request for additional time, emphasizing the urgency and gravity of the matter.
This recent summon marks the second instance in which PM Kakar has been called by the IHC, with the previous summons issued on November 29, 2023, in a case filed by Advocate Imaan Mazari. During that earlier instance, the caretaker PM did not appear, citing his absence from the country at the time.
The upcoming hearing is anticipated to delve deeper into the complexities of the missing Baloch students case, with the court seeking direct engagement from the highest echelons of the government.
