Sindh High Court directs police to recover missing children

Seeks report by October 23, petitioners' counsel claims some children held by NGOs

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed police on Wednesday to recover all missing children and submit a report by October 23. A two-member bench comprising Justice KK Agha and Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio was hearing the petitions filed by the families of 16 missing children.

The petitioners' counsel said that some missing children were in the custody of non-governmental organisations (NGO), which include Chippa, Edhi and Sarim Burney, among others. He informed the bench that these organisations were not allowing parents to see their children.

The father of a hearing-impaired missing girl burst into tears before the court. "The NGOs don't allow me to see the girls whenever I go to look for my daughter."

A mother of another missing girl told the court that her daughter has been missing for two years but the police was not cooperating for her recovery.

The bench directed police officials to help the parents and recover their children from these NGOs.

DIG Arif Hanif told the court that the police was trying to recover the missing children.

The court adjourned hearing till October 23, directing the police to submit a report on the next hearing.

Rehan murder case

Another two-member bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, sought the progress report of teenager Rehan's murder case from the investigation officer (IO). Rehan was tortured to death by a mob for suspected theft.

Rehan's family and their counsel, Advocate Irfan Aziz, appeared before the court.

The counsel argued that sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) should be included in the case. "Rehan was brutally tortured in broad daylight and the accused made a video and uploaded it on social media," he said. The case under sections pertaining to possession of illegal weapons has not been registered against the accused, said the counsel. "Weapons held by the accused could be clearly seen in the video," he added.

The IO said that Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code [pertaining to murder] has been included in the case. "More arrests have to be made in the case. Further interrogation requires time," he said praying the court to grant an extension.

The court sought the progress report of the case from the IO and adjourned hearing till September 13.

The petition had expressed dissatisfaction at the performance of the investigation police and requested the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT).

Consumer protection

Meanwhile, another two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal directed the government to form provincial and district consumer protection councils within 20 days and pay the salaries of consumer courts' judges immediately while hearing the case pertaining to the formation of provincial and district consumer protection councils.

The agriculture secretary, supply and price department and the focal person of Sindh government appeared before the court.

Petitioner Imran Shehzad argued that salaries of the judges of consumer courts in 29 districts of the province were not being paid. He said that provincial and district level consumer protection councils had not been formed despite the orders passed by the court.

Sindh focal person informed the court that funds have been released for the payment of judges' salaries and a summary has been sent to the chief secretary to form consumer protection councils.

The court ordered the provincial government to form the councils within 20 days and pay the salaries of consumer courts' judges immediately.

*With additional input from PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2019.