‘Bring answers to the court, not blank faces’

“As usual officers have no answers. It is unfortunate that they are indifferent towards the plight of Pakistanis"

KARACHI:

The law-enforcement agencies (LEA) need to provide real answers concerning missing persons, said Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi of the High Court of Sindh on Tuesday.

The divisional bench was hearing a petition filed by Nafees Ahmed Qidwai against the illegal detention of his son, Azib Imtiaz. Qidwai alleged that his son was going to the mosque when he was taken away by the LEAs. The court also went through a police report which had no mention of Imtiaz’s arrest.

The bench inquired after the whereabouts of the alleged detainee from Pakistan Rangers Deputy Superintendent Zia Arif Janjua, Legal Inspector Ali Shahbaz, Inspector Yamin and DSP Mazhar Iqbal Mashwani of the CID. When no answer was forthcoming, the judges expressed extreme annoyance. “As usual, these officers have no answers. It is unfortunate that they are indifferent towards the plight of Pakistani nationals who face such cases of missing persons every day.”

The court went on to hold that, “in case the LEA officers come to court without conducting preliminary inquiries, these officers will be held personally responsible for Imtiaz’s illegal detention.”  The court sent the order to IGP Sindh DIG Karachi, and all the LEA officers present in court. The respondents included the home secretary of Sindh, IGP, DG Ranger, DG ISI, DG MI and the SHO of Steel Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2011.