Report sought from IO on missing citizen

State lawyer suggests missing person could have ties to banned outfits

ISLAMABAD:

An investigation officer of the Islamabad Police has been directed to submit a detailed report of his investigations into the disappearance of a man from the federal capital.

This was directed by a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah as it heard a case about the disappearance of Imran Khan from the federal capital five years ago.

At the outset of Thursday’s hearing, CJ Minallah remarked that the security agencies have said they do not know the whereabouts of the missing man, even though the Commission of Inquiry on Forced Disappearances has termed it a case of enforced disappearance.

At this, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tayyab Shah argued that the recommendations of the commission are not definitive.

Investigation SP Malik Naeem told the court that a meeting of the commission is scheduled for the first week of November and this case is expected to be discussed in detail. To this, the bench expressed its displeasure with the police.

DAG Shah pointed out that the missing man’s passport included multiple visas and visits to Afghanistan had been detected, and suggested that he may be linked to banned outfits. The court sought a report from the investigation officer. The court also granted a plea from the DAG for time to submit answers and adjourned the hearing of the case until November 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2020.