Islamabad High Court gives ‘last’ chance for recovery of missing person

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday expressed extreme displeasure over the issue of missing persons and termed their non-recovery “incompetence of the government” and “failure of the state”.

The court observed that all the security agencies had “failed” to provide safety to the citizens.

The IHC heard a contempt petition against the high-level officials over the non-implementation of court orders. The court gave last chance for the recovery of missing person Abdullah Omar. He was abducted by unknown persons in 2015.

During the proceedings, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani warned the officials concerned to recover the abductee or face the music.

The court issued notices to the then interior and defence secretaries and IG and summoned them in personal capacity.

SSP Investigation Malik Naeem Iqbal, the then investigation officer Gulfam Warriach and state counsel Hasnain Haider Advocate appeared before the court.

Expressing his displeasure, Justice Kayani inquired about the status of the case from the officials.

“You are only wearing uniforms. No one wants to work. The state should not serve the nation through ‘illegal’ means. The case has been registered for the last six years. What is the status now?” he asked.

The investigation officer informed the court that the probe in the case continued.

The judge remarked that the application was being heard for the past several years and that officials had been asked to work on it time and again. He said the court would take action when the state does not.

The IHC inquired about the interior secretary’s presence to which the joint secretary interior replied that he had not come due to illness.

Justice Kayani expressed his dissatisfaction saying that the court would take action against all the concerned including the interior secretary.

“The interior secretary does not deserve to be on his position. You have picked up people for the last six years and it is the responsibility of the state to file reply on it,” the judge said.

Justice Kayani remarked that the non-recovery of missing persons was the “incompetence of the government” and “failure of the state”.

He reprimanded the officials concerned saying that the Islamabad police could not deal with “minor crimes” and that the recovery of the missing persons was “beyond their reach”.

He said if the court orders were not implemented then contempt of court proceedings would be conducted and arrest warrants will be issued.

He said that the court would also take action against the incumbent IG and interior secretary.

The IHC sought a reply and adjourned the hearing of the case until January 19.

In 2018, the IHC also imposed a fine of Rs2 million on the police officials over their negligence in tracing the missing person.