Islamabad, 15 Feb. (AKI/DAWN) - Pakistan's federal government said in the Supreme Court on Wednesday that three out of six recently traced persons from a list of 41 people "missing" for many years are in its custody for security reasons. A three-member bench took up the matter on the application of Amina Masood Janjua regarding missing persons, including her husband, whose unexplained incarceration for the last one and a half years is believed to have been caused by his suspected links with Al-Qaeda or jihadi groups. | I believe that last sentence pretty much explains it. |
Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan informed the panel of judges that computer expert Mohammad Mansoor and businessman Malik Zulfikar had been detained under the Security of Pakistan Act, 1952. They were picked up by intelligence agencies in March 2005 and June 2006, respectively. Likewise, Alim Tariq is with the Punjab police under the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, three others had been released, the attorney-general said.
At the last hearing, the court was informed that the attorney-general would present a comprehensive report on efforts made by the government in locating the rest of 16 missing persons out of a total of 41. Khan also informed the judges that every possible effort was being made to locate those on the missing list. After the hearing, family members of the disappeared persons surrounded the attorney-general and pleaded for his help in identifying their near and dear ones.
| A DNA sample might help |