Missing brothers: PHC asks defence, interior ministries to explain mysterious detentions

Tells CTD to explain position in similar case

PESHAWAR: A division bench of Peshawar High Court issued notices to the federal ministries of defence and interior, asking them to explain why three brothers from Swat were allegedly detained by security forces and why their property was confiscated. The notices were issued on Wednesday.

Justice Nisar Hussain and Justice Roohul Amin heard a writ petition filed by Zahida, the mother of Shujaat Shah, Syed Asmat Shah and Masood Shah, through her counsel Bashir Khan. Bashir argued the security forces arrested Zahida’s husband Daulat Shah and her sons a few years ago.



“They remained missing for a long time. In November 2014, Zahida was informed her son Shujaat was in Lakki Marwat and husband in Kohat internment centre while whereabouts of Asmat and Masood were still unknown to her,” the counsel told the court. “She was told her husband had died in the internment centre while Asmat had been placed in the proven militant or black category,” Bashir said.

He maintained security forces confiscated 2.75 acres of property, a house and a tractor from the three men, adding the tractor was given to the locals. “Zahida is living a miserable life,” he said, after which the bench directed Deputy Attorney General Musarratullah to submit a report in this regard and ordered the provincial government to file a reply as well.

Similarly, the bench heard another petition in a missing persons’ case and sought replies from counter-terrorism department (CTD) and Gulbahar SHO. The accused allegedly picked a resident from Afridi Garhi, Peshawar.

Petitioner Khan Wahid’s counsel Khalid Afridi told the bench Wahid was a student of BCom. He was arrested after CTD personnel raided his house on May 6, 2015.

Afridi argued Wahid has been missing since then. “The CTD also took away his laptop and other documents,” he said. The bench after hearing the arguments issued notices to the Gulbahar SHO and CTD.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2016.