The Islamabad High Court (IHC) provided the federal government with two months for taking measures to ensure that missing persons are recovered.
“No official has done their job we will hold everyone responsible if another missing persons case is filed in this court,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said while hearing a case of missing persons, including journalist Mudassar Naro.
The IHC had in May directed the federal government to serve notices to ex-president Pervaiz Musharraf and all other successors — the former prime ministers, including the incumbent holder of the office — in cases of missing persons.
IHC CJ had issued 15-page order in a case relating to the disappearance of journalist Naro and five other people after their petitions were fixed for final arguments, but the federal government requested an adjournment in May.
The IHC directed the government to ensure that the missing persons are recovered by June 17, however, since then the authorities have been seeking adjournments, citing various reasons.
In July, the IHC had warned that if the missing persons were not recovered, it would summon the incumbent chief executive — PM Shehbaz Sharif.
During today’s hearing, the court not only summoned the prime minister, but Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also appeared before the IHC.
The law minister requested more time and sought at least two months to resolve the issue after which the IHC CJ Minallah adjourned the hearing till November 14.