Khyber News

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Thursday summoned the record of previous cases against eleven Adyala jail prisoners one of whom died in the custody of intelligence agencies. 

Counsel for intelligence agencies, Raja Arshad informed the apex court that cases could not be lodged under the army act against former prisoners at the Adyala Jail due to a lack of evidence.

A three member bench headed by Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP), Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary heard the case pertaining to the death of prisoners under the custody of intelligence agencies.

During proceedings the CJP said the report prepared by Secretary Punjab was with the court, according to which 11 missing persons were recaptured by intelligence agencies from out of the Adyala jail. 

The counsel for the agencies informed the court that they had presented their written stance on the issue. The Chief Justice replied that this was a serious matter and had progressed beyond just statements. He added that if there was evidence of the prisoners being involved in attacks on security installations they would be held accountable and asked in which courts they had been tried and under what law were they sentenced.

“The constitution is the source of law in the country. No prisoner can be held without concrete evidence,” Chief Justice remarked.

Raja Arshad said these prisoners were to be tried under the army act but this did not happen due to a lack of evidence.

Later the hearing of the case was adjourned for three weeks.