Islamabad High Court judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked on Monday that the caretaker prime minister, interim defence minister, defence secretary, caretaker interior minister, and interior secretary should step down from their position if they cannot work.

He said this while presiding over the Baloch missing students case.

Justice Kiani adjourned the hearing till next week and again summoned interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar in a personal capacity on February 28.

Last week, the judge summoned Kakar summoned him with the directive to explain why a case should not be registered against him.

On Nov 29, Justice Kayani hearing this case warned that a case could be registered against the caretaker prime minister and others if they fail to reunite the missing Baloch students with their families.

Hearing

On Monday, petitioner Imaan Mazari, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan, and Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Dogal appeared in the court.

Justice Kiani asked whether the remaining 12 missing Baloch students were recovered or not. AGP Awan said that according to his information, eight students were so far not recovered.

The judge asked about the caretaker ministers and secretaries. He remarked that it was the second time that the interim PM did not appear in court.

Justice Kiani mentioned that it was the 24th hearing of the case.

Justice Kiani mentioned that it was the 24th hearing of the case and added that a petition had been filed since 2022 and a commission was formed on it.

The court noted that it took two years to recover “our citizens” whereas no criminal case was registered against them.

Moreover, it added that no documents or information were shared with the court about those who went missing over the last two years.

The IHC noted that a commission could at least have been formed comprising people from the institution who were accused.

When the AGP sought a delay in the case, the judge remarked that a government ruled the court for more than three years while another ruled for 16 months and then the caretaker government, but nothing has so far been done for the Baloch students recovery.

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He added that there have been allegations against the institutions.

The judge noted that PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat informed the court about a raid on his house on Sunday. He asked why the Islamabad police went to Marwat’s house at 1:30am.

The court summoned the Islamabad IGP and the CTD head to the next hearing of the case.

“Tell the prime minister that don’t go to Karachi on next hearing of the case,” Justice Kiani told the AGP. “The interim PM is not a full-time prime minister. Tell him that there’s nothing wrong in coming to the court.”

Later the court adjourned the hearing till Feb 28.