LAHORE, March 28: The Punjab government on Monday expressed ignorance about whereabouts of families of Faizan and Faheem, who were killed by CIA contractor Raymond Davis, and suggested the Lahore High Court ask the federal government about the 'missing persons'.

The Punjab home secretary said this in a written reply submitted by an assistant advocate general to the court of Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Husain in connection with the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed for recovery of the families of the murdered youths, Faizan and Faheem.

The reply read that the Punjab government had no information about the victims' family members. It further said though Davis's passport was still in the custody of the provincial government, it did not play any role in sending the accused abroad after his release ordered by a subordinate court.

The Punjab government said as all the information about Davis was with the federal government, the court should summon interior secretary in this regard.

Petitioner's counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique pointed out that law minister Rana Sanaullah, during a media talk, had said the family members of both victims were living in Rawalpindi. He requested the court to summon the minister in order to get complete information about the 'missing persons'. At this, Justice Husain directed the assistant advocate general and investigating agencies to look into the matter in the light of the law minister's statement.

Mr Siddique further said if a footage of closed-circuit cameras installed at Kot Lakhpat jail and call record of cell numbers of high officials, including Rana Sanaullah, was obtained, the situation would become clear.

The court, however, issued a notice to the federal government and directed a deputy attorney general to ensure submission of a reply from the interior ministry by April 1, the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing the petition filed by a lawyer, Malik Munsif Awan. The petitioner said both families had 'gone missing' after the release of Davis in the double-murder case.

He apprehended they were kidnapped and kept in illegal detention. He submitted, quoting media reports, that the families had a huge amount of Rs200 million, they had received as blood money, with them and their lives could be in danger.

He said there were also apprehensions that they were forced to accept the blood money for the release of Davis. He requested the court to summon authorities concerned and direct them to 'recover' the victims' families and present them in the court.