Missing persons case: Pak`s new Defence Minister appears in SC

Lahore: Pakistan`s newly appointed Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif today appeared in the Supreme Court in a case of 35 "missing persons", days after the court warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear in person or face "serious consequences" over the slow progress in the case.

To avoid confrontation with the apex court, Sharif who was holding the defence portfolio relinquished it and handed it over to Asif yesterday. The Supreme Court had warned that the Defence Minister would have to appear in the court today over slow progress in the case of 35 "missing persons". Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had warned the Defence Minister to produce 35 "missing persons" before it until Thursday (today) or face "serious consequences". During today`s hearing, Asif assured the apex court that the detainees would be produced before it at the earliest. The 35 missing persons are believed to be in the custody of the intelligence agencies for their alleged connection with terror activities. During the last hearing on Tuesday, the Chief Justice observed that as sufficient evidence was available to establish the custody of the 35 people with the army, the army authorities were bound to produce them before the court of law and had no authority to retain their custody unlawfully.