Petition seeks Bhagwandas' whereabouts filed in SC

Islamabad, Mar 16: A petition asking Pakistan's Supreme Court to direct the government to disclose the whereabouts of the senior-most judge of the apex court, Rana Bhagwandas, was filed yesterday, reports today said.

The petition, filed by Moulvi Iqbal Haider under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as a matter of public importance, expressed concern over a BBC Urdu News item which said Justice Bhagwandas was not in India and the Pakistani High Commission there did not know about his visit or his whereabouts.

''The nation is worried and wants to know about the whereabouts of Bhagwandas. Besides, it is the responsibility of the government and the Foreign Affairs Ministry to give information on the whereabouts of the Judge and his health, safety and security,'' Mr Haider said in the petition, the 'Daily Times' today reported.

According to the BBC news report attached with the petition, when Justice Bhagwandas' brother Sri Chand was contacted in Karachi, he could only confirm that the Judge left Karachi for New Delhi, but said he knew nothing about his whereabouts. The report also quoted some judges of the Indian Supreme Court as saying that Justice Bhagwandas did come to India, but had gone back to Pakistan.

The petition said that in the given situation, it was the responsibility of the government to clear this situation. The Federal government, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Justice Bhagwandas have been made respondents to the petition.

UNI

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