Zardari's missing aide: Rangers blame police for slow probe

Police have demonstrated laziness in investigation, says Rangers law officer

KARACHI: The difference between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led provincial government and the federal paramilitary force over the extension of their special powers emerged clearly when the Rangers blamed the police for the 'slow' pace of investigation into the 'disappearance' of the close aide of PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

The blame from the paramilitary force came during the hearing of a petition seeking recovery of Ghulam Qadir Marri, who is missing since April 7.

The two are at odds these days as the provincial government is not extending special powers to the Rangers to conduct operations in the province.



A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, was hearing a petition seeking recovery of Marri, who had allegedly gone missing on April 7.

Filing comments, a Rangers law officer said the paramilitary force had made ground checks and written letters to the different wings of the Rangers in Sindh, seeking information about the arrest or detention of the alleged missing person.

However, the officer said Marri was neither arrested nor detained at any of the Rangers wings.



Blaming the police, the Rangers law officer said police had demonstrated laziness in the investigation of Marri's disappearance even though he is a friend of a prominent figure of PPP.

Justice Siddiqui observed that the matter relates to an ailing person, adding that the police have failed in tracing his whereabouts.

The bench inquired about the progress of the case's investigation from the investigation officer to which the police official said he had assumed charge only a day before. Two investigation officers assigned to the case had already been changed, the police official added.



The bench directed him to submit a report regarding progress in efforts for the recovery of the alleged missing person on the next date of hearing.

Case history

Marri is one of Zardari's three close aides who have reportedly gone missing recently. Ashfaq Leghari - who worked for the Omni Group and Nawab Leghari, former adviser to the Sindh government - went missing a few days ago.

The matter regarding the disappearance of Marri was taken up in court by his brother, Ismail Marri, who filed a petition seeking a directive for law enforcement agencies to trace the whereabouts of Marri, his friend, Khan Muhammad Mangi, and two servants, Mehboob Ali Khashkheli and Javed Rehman.

The petitioner's lawyer, Shahab Sarki, said Marri, a staunch PPP supporter, was kidnapped on April 7 near Jamshoro when he was returning home from Naudero after attending the death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.



Marri, who is also a businessman, was traveling in his white Land Cruiser along with his friend, driver and another servant, Sarki added.

The lawyer said the petitioner's missing brother was in contact with his family members till late Friday evening. Later, they learned through a news channel that his brother had gone missing as his vehicle was found abandoned near the Jamshoro power house, he added.

Sarki said Marri was suffering from multiple ailments, including cancer, diabetes, and high-blood pressure and used to have periodic medical check-ups. Marri's confinement would have a detrimental effect on his health as he was also undergoing cyberknife therapy.



Marri's brother alleged that Marri was being victimised by the establishment due to his political affiliation. Marri was a law-abiding citizen and would be willing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies with regard to any investigation, he added.

The petitioner contended that if his brother was required in any case, he should be produced before the court of law. He added that abduction violates the fundamental rights of the detainee guaranteed under the Constitution.

He pleaded the court to direct the respondent authorities to produce Marri in court and restrain them from taking any adverse action against him.