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Illegal detentions: Court tells army to rein in errant agencies
[Dawn]  Showing deep resentment at 'illegal' detention of a person for over 38 months, the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar High Court on Thursday asked the General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) director general to form a high-powered team to check widespread illegal activities of ISI and other agencies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... and adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk observed: "It is more than essential to bring these agencies under control and discipline and their work is fully channelised as none will be permitted to act in this illegal manner in future and if any one defy and violate the law he should be tried by a court martial under the Army Act." The bench also summoned the sector in charge of ISI and the inspector general of prisons in some missing person cases. It, especially the chief justice, expressed anger after a former detainee, Mir Mohammad Arshad, informed that he was kept in a basement for 38 months after he was interrogated only for three days. He informed that during his captivity his old mother could not sustain his disappearance and had died. The chief justice asked: "Who will compensate him and his family who has undergone agonising period of 38 months is a big question mark for the army leadership?" The bench observed that instead of taking action directly it would leave the matter to ISI DG and GHQ to constitute a high-powered team to check activities of ISI and other agencies. "This court expects Pakistain Army, which has rendered great sacrifices for this country, to step into this matter quickly to regain what they have lost due to illegal acts of agencies," it said. Posted by: Fred 2012-04-14 |
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