ISLAMABAD- The Supreme Court Monday directed the Punjab government to give reply over the willingness of a witness, Imran Munir, to record his statement through video link in a case involving the enforced disappearance of Masood Janjua in July 2005.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, has asked Additional Advocate Punjab Razaq A Mirza to examine the video statement of Imran Munir and submit reply on May 22.
Amina Masood, wife of missing Masood Janjua, submitted an application in the apex court along with a CD, wherein Imran has denied the Punjab police report that he is not willing to record his statement through video link from Sri Lanka.
According to his statement to the joint investigation team (JIT) on December 5, 2009, Imran had claimed to have seen Janjua in the custody of ISI Brigadier Mansoor Saeed Sheikh in a cell near Zakria Masjid in Rawalpindi between July 28, 2006 and March 2007. Dr Munir is currently living in a UNHCR camp in Sri Lanka, where he is seeking asylum.
Amna, chairperson Defence of Human Rights, while submitting fresh plea said that Punjab Police SP Potohar Town Haroon Joya had travelled to Sri Lanka to contact Imran and on March 31, 2014, Additional Advocate General Razaq A Mirza presented a report in the apex court about the minutes of the meeting held between SP Joya and representative of the UNHCR.
"The said report was read out in the court but para 3 (e) of the minutes of the meeting was specially omitted which states that the UNHCR representative informed that their organisation will have no objection if Imran Munir is willing to give statement at his own."
Amna contended that the omission of para was intended to mislead the court to incorrectly believe that Imran is unwilling to record his statement. She requested the court to order an inquiry and register an FIR to prosecute the officials who have tried to deceive the court, adding that the case may be decided upon the statement of Dr Imran even if it is against the applicant so that it may be recorded in the history and be read in all times to come. Amna also attached Imran's letter to chief justice of Pakistan wherein he has denied the Punjab police report about the recording of statement through video link.
Imran in its letter stated that the interior ministry has revoked his citizenship and cancelled his passport illegally. "I never surrendered my passport to UNHCR for seeking asylum, which is not their requirement." He requested the court to pass an order to reinstate his citizenship and passport as soon as possible.
The bench has sought reply from Punjab government regarding his video statement.
During the hearing, AAG Punjab stated that all the witnesses of military officers including former Army Chief Pervez Musharraf agreed that Masood Janjua had been killed.