IG is least bothered about missing children, observe judges
Only four of 20 missing children in Sindh have been recovered, court informed
PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) came down hard on the provincial government, as the inspector-general of police claimed recovery of only four out of 20 missing children in the province.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, told the provincial government as well as the IG to submit separate reports showing progress in the recovery of the children reported missing a long time ago.
The directives came during hearing on a petition filed in 2012 seeking recognising the disappearance of children as a cognisable offence and registering FIRs of such offences across the province.
During Thursday's proceedings, the judges were annoyed as they found neither was IG Allah Dino Khawaja present nor had he filed any progress report in compliance with the court's directives issued on November 28.
Putting aside the matter, they ordered IG Khawaja to appear at 11am.
However, Central SSP Muqaddas Haider later appeared along with a progress report.
Civil society to hold protest against missing persons
He maintained that the police could trace only four of 20 children whose families had reported them missing across the province. He added that cases regarding missing of seven minors had also been registered at the police station concerned.
An additional advocate-general blamed the slow pace in efforts for the recovery of the missing children on the IG’s failure to appoint a high-ranking officer as the lead investigator in such cases.
The police officer maintained that steps were being taken to ensure recovery of the remaining children.
However, the judges took serious exception to the delays in locating the whereabouts of the minors. The bench members observed that the children were missing in the province, but the IG apparently seemed least bothered about this serious matter.
They remarked that the missing children should be recovered, as it portrayed an alarming situation in the province. The bench members directed the provincial government to take effective steps to ensure that the missing children were recovered and reunited with their families at the earliest. It also directed the government as well as the IG to file their separate reports, showing effective measures were taken for the missing children's recovery. Next date of hearing will be later notified by the office.
Missing rights activist Punhal Sario returns home
Case history
For nearly six years the judges have time and again issued orders and directives to the provincial home secretaries and inspectors-general of the police to take steps for the recovery of minors who go missing in the province.
The case was heard by different judges, including the provincial chief justice, on 41 occasions since the petition was filed on January 17, 2012.
The petitioner, Roshni Research and Development Organisation, a non-government group working for child protection and safety, is litigating to get the disappearance of children recognised as a cognisable offence and subsequently FIRs in this regard should be registered in Sindh.
"Some 5,000 to 6,000 children go missing every year," according to lawyer Naveed Ahmed, who represents the groups while referring to data compiled by the NGO.
He stated that police used to record complaints about missing children in their daily diary (roznamcha) at the police station instead of registering an FIR.
Two missing children found dead in stream
Advocate Ahmed argued that if a missing child was not rescued within 48 hours, then the police should register a kidnapping case and investigate the matter according to the law.
He had been pleading to the court to issue direction to the home department, Sindh IG and other respondents to submit a report on whether complaints of missing children were registered and investigated and order special training of the police to deal with such cases.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) came down hard on the provincial government, as the inspector-general of police claimed recovery of only four out of 20 missing children in the province.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, told the provincial government as well as the IG to submit separate reports showing progress in the recovery of the children reported missing a long time ago.
The directives came during hearing on a petition filed in 2012 seeking recognising the disappearance of children as a cognisable offence and registering FIRs of such offences across the province.
During Thursday's proceedings, the judges were annoyed as they found neither was IG Allah Dino Khawaja present nor had he filed any progress report in compliance with the court's directives issued on November 28.
Putting aside the matter, they ordered IG Khawaja to appear at 11am.
However, Central SSP Muqaddas Haider later appeared along with a progress report.
Civil society to hold protest against missing persons
He maintained that the police could trace only four of 20 children whose families had reported them missing across the province. He added that cases regarding missing of seven minors had also been registered at the police station concerned.
An additional advocate-general blamed the slow pace in efforts for the recovery of the missing children on the IG’s failure to appoint a high-ranking officer as the lead investigator in such cases.
The police officer maintained that steps were being taken to ensure recovery of the remaining children.
However, the judges took serious exception to the delays in locating the whereabouts of the minors. The bench members observed that the children were missing in the province, but the IG apparently seemed least bothered about this serious matter.
They remarked that the missing children should be recovered, as it portrayed an alarming situation in the province. The bench members directed the provincial government to take effective steps to ensure that the missing children were recovered and reunited with their families at the earliest. It also directed the government as well as the IG to file their separate reports, showing effective measures were taken for the missing children's recovery. Next date of hearing will be later notified by the office.
Missing rights activist Punhal Sario returns home
Case history
For nearly six years the judges have time and again issued orders and directives to the provincial home secretaries and inspectors-general of the police to take steps for the recovery of minors who go missing in the province.
The case was heard by different judges, including the provincial chief justice, on 41 occasions since the petition was filed on January 17, 2012.
The petitioner, Roshni Research and Development Organisation, a non-government group working for child protection and safety, is litigating to get the disappearance of children recognised as a cognisable offence and subsequently FIRs in this regard should be registered in Sindh.
"Some 5,000 to 6,000 children go missing every year," according to lawyer Naveed Ahmed, who represents the groups while referring to data compiled by the NGO.
He stated that police used to record complaints about missing children in their daily diary (roznamcha) at the police station instead of registering an FIR.
Two missing children found dead in stream
Advocate Ahmed argued that if a missing child was not rescued within 48 hours, then the police should register a kidnapping case and investigate the matter according to the law.
He had been pleading to the court to issue direction to the home department, Sindh IG and other respondents to submit a report on whether complaints of missing children were registered and investigated and order special training of the police to deal with such cases.