ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Prime Minister (PM) and the federal cabinet to hear the affected family in missing journalist and blogger Mudassar Naroo recovery case.

The case came up for hearing before single bench of IHC presided over by Chief Justice (CJ) IHC Athar Minallah Thursday.

The court inquired during the hearing of the case “ deputy attorney general should tell when PM and federal cabinet will hear and satisfy the affected family. PM and federal cabinet should satisfy the family of the missing journalist that state is not included in this case. If deputy attorney general does not inform about the date till Monday then interior secretary should appear in future .

The court observed it is responsibility of the state to ensure security of its citizens. The tendency of enforced disappearance prevails in the country. The onus lies on the state to satisfy the family of the missing person. Ensuring the recovery of missing person too is responsibility of the state. There is no rule of law in place here.

Imman Mazari and Usman Warraich counsels for the family of missing journalist Mudassar Naroo appeared in the court. The representative of defence ministry too appeared in the court.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Syed Tayyab Shah told the court if two minutes are given to me then I will place the facts before the court. The facts of this case are different.

The court directed DAG to read out report of missing person commission. If enforced disappearances are not taking place then we will not go to this side. But it is not as such there.

The court inquired when this incident took place. This is incident of August 20, 2018. Who was Prime Minister at that time.

DAG told the court Imran Khan was PM and he had taken charge of his office at that day.

The court remarked there is one mother, one wife and a child. Had state been with them, they would have not wandered from here to there.

DAG told the court please hear me for half a minute. There is report of DP Mansehra in this case. He was walking on along side bank of river Kunhar.

The court stopped the DAG from speaking. His family is not satisfied. Satisfying them is responsibility of the PM and the federal cabinet.

The decision of Maira Sajid case was also read out before the court on the occasion. As per commissioner report the family of the missing person has said that the state and its agencies are involved therein.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till Monday.