Court to decide Army future in Fata, Pata, says PHC CJ

PESHAWAR - Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Dost Muhammad Khan while hearing the case of Anar Gul has asked DIG investigations and Principal Staff Officer to Pakistan Army to prepare a detailed report about the missing incident and killing of Anar Gul. He also asked for Court Martial of the involved persons in Anar Gul missing case ,otherwise, the court will take action under civil law of Army Act to transfer the case to the court of Sessions Judge. He said that that if the issue of forced disappearances were not resolved, the court would think over the future of Army deployed in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Provincial Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) region. A two-member bench headed by the PHC Chief Justice sought a report regarding missing persons.  During the hearing, the bench directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the security agencies to submit a report pertaining to the missing persons within a week’s time. The case of one Anar Gul, who went missing on May 23, last year while his body was discovered on October 6, 2012, was put up before the court. Son of Anar Gul contested that his father mysteriously went missing and a year later his body was found. After hearing the case, the PHC Chief Justice directed KPK Home Secretary and Inspector General Police (IGP) to form a committee to probe the disappearance cum murder of Anar Gul. The court also directed the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) General Headquarters (GHQ) to constitute an inquiry board to probe Anar Gul's case in order to identify the persons behind his disappearance. The PHC CJ maintained that if the court orders were not followed, the court under the Constitution reserves the right to take action.The court sought the list of missing persons by December 18th, adding, that, if forced disappearances were not sorted out, it would mull over the future of Army in FATA and PATA region. On the other hand, the relatives of the missing persons protested outside the premises of Peshawar High Court against forced disappearances and the early recovery of their loved ones. 

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt