In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Supreme Court has issued notices to the heads of all intelligence agencies — Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Military Intelligence (MI) — to submit a report regarding “missing persons” by November 25.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a court has summoned the intelligence agencies or issued notices to them for any offence. The Supreme Court’s notice on Friday to the heads of the secretive agencies directed them to submit a report pertaining to 11 prisoners missing from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, is hearing a case regarding the 11 missing prisoners who were allegedly handed over to the secret intelligence agencies by the jail authorities.
The attorney-general, Maulvi Anwarul Haq, again told the court that the whereabouts of the 11 missing prisoners could not be ascertained. He told the court he had approached the concerned authorities, including the interior ministry, but they denied having any information about the whereabouts of the prisoners.
The A-G said personnel of the intelligence agencies wanted to tell the court something in secret. “The case is in open court. No talks can be held with the intelligence agencies in separation. Evidences are available under whose custody the prisoners are kept. The court should not be forced to go to extreme ends. If the matter proceeds further, more complications will arise. The country cannot afford a clash among institutions. Action will be taken against all persons involved in this incident indiscriminately. All will have to appear after the reply is received. It can lead to dire consequences if the matter is not resolved soon,” the Chief Justice said, adding that it was not appropriate for him or the other judges to meet them in chamber.