ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday instructed a petitioner to approach the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), the relevant forum for the recovery of a missing citizen.
Justice Kayani heard the application of the wife of a missing citizen, Omar Abdullah, seeking implementation of the recovery order.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the FCC had issued a stay order. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani observed that it is very difficult for government lawyers to defend cases related to disappearances. Besides, according to the FCC, it is not within the high court’s authority to order the recovery of missing persons, therefore, such cases are now to be heard by the Federal Constitutional Court. The IHC must respect the FCC’s directives.
Justice Kayani noted that according to the FCC, the decision previously given by the High Court was incorrect. As a result, proceedings in the IHC have been suspended and an official order has been issued.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the courts are the last hope for justice. In response, the court stated that the petitioner must now present the case before the Federal Constitutional Court. It has been 10 years since this case began and state institutions have yet to provide any resolution, leaving the matter unresolved to this day.
