IHC admonishes police for failing to recover girl

A judge of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday expressed annoyance with Islamabad police over their failure to recover a 16-year-old Tahira and issued a show-cause notice to SSP Islamabad Atta ur Rehman.

Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case filed by the victim’s family seeking the girl’s recovery who went missing seven days ago. The judge expressed displeasure with SSP Islamabad over the comments submitted by him and inquired whether the police officer was appearing for the first time before a high court. He asked why the court should not issue a show-cause notice to the officer for not implementing its directives

DIG Operations Afzal Ahmed Kausar requested the court to grant a month’s time for recovery of the girl, adding that the police would make all-out efforts in that regard. Refusing to accept the DIG’s response, Justice Farooq asked sarcastically perhaps the court should give a year’s time or maybe time till 2031.

The bench observed it seemed every officer posted in Islamabad from other provinces had come here to spend vacations. The judge said officers should give responsible statements before courts. Admonishing the DIG, the judge asked why the court should not send them (police officials present) to Adyala jail for contempt of court.

Justice Farooq said the court would initiate contempt of court proceedings if no reply was received from the police at the next date.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2021.