ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar to appear on Monday regarding the case of missing Baloch students.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presiding over the case, expressed a stern stance, suggesting that those implicated in enforced disappearances should face severe penalties.

“Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq is required to personally appear before the court on Monday at 10:00 AM to justify why a case should not be initiated against him,” stated Justice Kayani.

In response to the Assistant Attorney General’s request for a postponement of the hearing, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani displayed leniency by refraining from summoning both Directors-General.

The Assistant Attorney General, Usman Ghumman, informed the court that one of the 12 missing students has been located, citing the unavailability of the Attorney General as grounds for adjournment.

However, the court dismissed the state lawyer’s plea. In a previous session, the IHC had set February 13 (today) as the deadline for the federal government to recover the missing Baloch students. Additionally, the court had demanded a final report on all Baloch missing persons concerning their return to their homes.

The court clarified that it is not currently demanding sworn statements from the Prime Minister, Interior and Defence Secretaries, and security institutions.

However, if the missing individuals are not found, sworn statements will be required, and legal proceedings will commence.

The Attorney General submitted a list of missing Baloch students due to enforced disappearances, revealing that 12 cases remain unresolved. The federal government assured the court that no individual will be abducted or forcibly disappeared in the future.

Furthermore, the Attorney General pledged that all missing persons will be located at any cost, emphasizing that those involved in unlawful activities will face legal repercussions, as stated in the court order.

The court acknowledged these statements and actions as positive signs for Pakistan’s future, which will bring justice to Baloch families anxiously awaiting news of their missing loved ones for several years.

Moreover, the court designated the case of the missing father of Sammi Deen Baloch, who has been absent for over a decade, as a litmus test for the Attorney General to extract information from state institutions regarding his whereabouts, as per the court’s directive.