Authorities told to issue timeline for opening roads
The Sindh High Court directed the relevant authorities on Wednesday to issue a timeline for the opening of roads in the vicinity of Clifton Bridge.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, which was hearing the plea pertaining to the barricading and closure of roads, also enquired whether a plea to make the federal government a party in the case had been filed.
The petitioner informed the court no directives to file such a plea had been issued.
Besides, the Sindh assistant advocate-general told the court that the South DIG had submitted his reply on the plea.
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Citing the reply, he said the strategy for the opening of roads had been devised with the consensus of all the parties.
However, the petitioner expressed reservation on the DIG's reply and stated that the Iranian consulate had called for opening the roads in two phases.
He further pointed out that no timeline for the opening of roads had been shared.
Missing persons cases
Separately, another bench comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Abdul Mubeen Lakho, sought reports from the relevant agencies and the travel history of a missing person, Saeed Khosa, from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director.
Hearing the plea seeking Khosa's recovery, the court expressed annoyance over an FIR of the disappearance having been registered.
"What shall we expect [from the relevant authorities] when a single FIR has not been registered," remarked Justice Phulpoto, observing that a joint investigation team (JIT) meeting had been called on the matter in the last four months.
The court stated that a JIT meeting should be held every month, warning that if the directive was not followed, the provincial chief secretary would be summoned to give an explanation.
Seeking reports from the relevant departments and Khosa's travel history from the FIA director, the court adjourned the hearing until April 1.
During the hearing of another plea, also seeking the recovery of missing persons, the same bench summoned the home secretary.
The court was irked over delays in the preparation of a JIT report by the police and the home department, despite the issuance of judicial orders in that connection.
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Expressing annoyance, Justice Phulpoto observed, "The [relevant] authorities have defied judicial orders and the investigation officer (IO) has not been able to acquire reports from detention centres."
The court then enquired about the measures taken for the recovery of missing persons.
At that, the IO informed the court that letters, asking for the required reports, had been sent to detention centres.
The court adjourned the hearing after directing the police and other relevant authorities to take immediate measures for the recovery of missing persons and sought reports from the Ministry of Interior and the FIA director-general on the matter and an explanation from the Sindh IGP.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2021.