The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a directive to caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, urging him to secure the recovery of more than 50 allegedly missing Baloch students. The orders were given by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani during a hearing focused on the implementation of recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
The commission, established in 2011, aimed to trace missing persons and assign responsibility to individuals or organizations involved in enforced disappearances. The court’s attention was drawn to this matter as part of ongoing efforts to address the persistent issue of missing persons in the country.
Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously appeared before the IHC in a similar case last September, responding to the court’s directive to ensure the recovery of missing persons or face court appearance if unsuccessful. During his appearance, Sharif pledged all-out efforts for the recovery of missing persons, vowing not to make any “lame excuse.”
Caretaker Prime Minister Kakar had claimed in a recent interview with BBC Urdu that around 50 people had been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan, based on estimates from a UN sub-committee. However, he expressed frustration with the issue being used as a “propaganda tool” against the state.
In the latest hearing, Assistant Attorney General Usman Ghumman presented a ministerial report on Baloch missing persons, which the court returned, expressing displeasure. Justice Kayani emphasized the importance of empathy from leaders hailing from Balochistan, including the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, given that the issue involves Baloch students.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress, Justice Kayani summoned Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dugal. The judge highlighted that the case had been heard previously, a commission was formed, and the matter was referred to the federal government. He expressed concern about the lack of meaningful work by the commission on enforced disappearances.
Justice Kayani stressed that the Prime Minister, along with the ministers for interior, human rights, and defense, would be summoned. If the recovery of 55 missing Baloch students is not achieved by Nov 29, the caretaker Prime Minister is directed to appear before the court. The judge underlined the responsibility of the state to ensure the safe return of individuals and questioned the possibility of involving the United Nations if necessary, expressing deep concern about the increasing number of missing people.
