Long overdue: SHC summons CIA chief with report on man missing since 2012

Provincial and federal law officers issued notices regarding recovery of three men

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has summoned the Crime Investigation Agency, Karachi, chief with reports regarding the whereabouts of a man missing since 2012.

A division bench, comprising justices Irfan Saadat Khan and Zafar Ahmed Rajput, personally called the officer while hearing a lawyer's plea against the disappearance of his son.

Advocate Abdul Sattar had interrupted the Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah from delivering his speech during his recent visit to the newly constructed annex building of the SHC and complained about the failure of the law enforcement agencies to trace his son.

In his petition, Sattar told the judges that his son, Noor Muhammad, was picked up by unidentified men from the city courts in April 2012.

Ever since, the law enforcers have failed to establish Muhammad's whereabouts or share any bit of information about his wellbeing, the father alleged in the petition.

He pleaded the court order the Sindh police chief, the Rangers DG and others to ascertain the whereabouts of his missing son and produce him in the court.

The division bench issued notice to the CIA in-charge with direction to appear in the court along with reports on efforts for recovery of the petitioner's son.

Missing men

The same bench, meanwhile, also issued notices to the provincial and federal law officers on a petition seeking whereabouts of three men, who were allegedly taken away by the Rangers personnel from different parts of the city.

The petitioners named the federal and provincial home secretaries, the provincial chiefs of the police, the Rangers and other officers as respondents.

They alleged that the personnel belonging to the paramilitary force had taken away their relatives, Mushtaq, Amirullah and Yasir, from their houses without showing any warrant.

The detainees were taken away from Nazimabad, Korangi and Banaras localities, the petitioners stated, adding that neither police nor the Rangers were disclosing the whereabouts of the detainees.

Arguing that such detentions are contrary to the legal and constitutional provisions that guarantee fundamental rights, the petitioners pleaded to the court to order the police and Rangers chiefs to disclose whereabouts of the detainees.

After initiating hearing, the judges issued notices to the provincial advocate-general and the deputy attorney general with direction to file comments of the IG and DG Rangers by March 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2016.