July 3, 2024
By BILAL BASEER
ISLAMABAD
On Wednesday, July 3, the Islamabad High Court criticized the government for its handling of enforced disappearance cases and summoned Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan to report on the progress.
IHC Judge Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb led the hearing on the recovery of Atiq-ur-Rehman, a resident of Abbottabad who has been missing for the past 20 years. He was associated with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission as a scientific officer before his disappearance.
According to an FIR registered with the Abbottabad police, Rehman went missing under mysterious circumstances from Malikpura village, his hometown, on June 25, 2004. The case was registered on July 17, 2004 at a police station in Abbottabad under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
During a court hearing, respondents were mandated to submit a report. The registrar of enforced disappearances present at the court hearing said that due to a lack of clerical staff, he was personally compiling the report.
Imaan Zainab Mazari, counsel for the petitioner, cited IHC case concerning Baloch missing persons, where Attorney General Mansoor Awan had ensured the return of all missing persons with their families. She also cited the 2013 UN Working Report on the Enforced Disappearances Commission in Pakistan.
In light of these references, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb indicated that he would summon the AGP to assist the court in addressing the missing persons cases.
Hajra Bibi, the petitioner, urged the court to enforce the production order issued by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
Addressing the commission officials, the judge criticized the lack of action while stating that in ordinary cases, multiple attempts might be acceptable but in these critical cases, the pressure is much greater.
The court questioned why contempt proceedings had not been initiated for non-compliance with the production order. The officials explained that contempt of court applies to individuals not institutions.
Dissatisfied with the response, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb expressed his desire to understand the government’s position on the missing persons cases and asked if the policy is that those taken will remain taken.
Hajra Bibi, petitioner and Rehman’s sister, while speaking with Voicepk, said, “Atiq was taken away when he went to a hairdresser for a trim on his wedding day”.
She informed that they were a family of six sisters and two brothers. Their other brother died a year after Atiq’s disappearance.
“Our elderly parents live alone. Our sister, who lives close to their house, takes care of them. They have grown weaker while waiting for Atiq,” she said.
Two decades on, they still have no information on Rehman’s whereabouts. They have approached every possible forum to recover him. Hajra Bibi’s dream is for her parents to see him again before they die.