Mysterious disappearance: Missing man not in Hyderabad, police inform court

Sohrab Goth police had earlier said Faraz, 65, was in Hyderabad

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed on Tuesday the Sohrab Goth police to continue efforts for recovery of a man who allegedly disappeared from a hospital two years ago.

Headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, the division bench directed the official to file a progress report by April 4.

Feroz Khan, 65, had reportedly met an accident on October 29, 2014 and was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.



Khan's son, Naseebullah Khan, said his father had left home on May 19 but did not return, after which the matter was reported to the Sohrab Goth police.

A month after the police failed to recover his father, Naseebullah filed a case in the high court, seeking directions for the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital's medical superintendent and Rangers director-general to establish his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, additional SHO Sohrab Goth had disclosed before the court that, according to his sources, the missing man was in the custody of a beggar 'mafia' in Hyderabad.

During Tuesday's proceedings, DIG Hyderabad Khadim Hussain Rind appeared in court and filed an explanation for his absence at an earlier hearing.

Explaining his absence from the court at the previous hearing, the official said he had departed for Karachi on Monday but then had to return to Hyderabad to maintain law and order after protests erupted there against the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri.

Rind maintained that he respects courts and complies with their orders and directives in letter and spirit, therefore, he pleaded to the court to accept the explanation for his absence.

Meanwhile, SSP Hyderabad also filed a report, stating that efforts were made to locate whereabouts of Feroz but police could not find any clue after examining CCTV footage from the entry points of the district as well from investigation at the civil hospital and other places.

The officer said the missing person hailed from Karachi, where he met an accident and was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment from where he left against the advice of doctors.

He further said that no movement of Feroz had been reported or spotted in Hyderabad. He assured, however, that efforts would continue in this regard.

The bench took statements of the two officers on record and directed SHO Sohrab Goth to continue efforts for recovery of the missing person. The hearing was adjourned till April 4.

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