Illegal detentions: SSP faces arrest over missing JSQM man

Alleged detenue’s mother goes to court.

KARACHI: Khairpur’s top police officials were warned of arrests if they failed to find and present an activist of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) before a division bench of the High Court of Sindh (SHC) on August 23, the next hearing.

Justices Maqbool Baqar and Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi were displeased when DSP Jan Muhammad Brahmani told the bench that SSP Irfan Baloch was unable to attend court on Tuesday as he was busy getting ready for the arrival of the chief minister and other VVIPs coming to attend the annual urs celebrations of Sufi saint Sachal Sarmast.

The bench inquired about the work done to find the missing Ikhtiyar Chandio. He left Karachi on March 16 and when his bus reached the Gambat Bypass, a police party intercepted the vehicles, off loaded him and whisked him away. No one knows where he is, said his mother Sakina who went to court claiming he was being illegally detained. He has not been presented before any court of law in four months.

The court noted that despite its strict orders dated August 2 and 12, the SSP had been evading a court appearance. It sternly warned the police officer in attendance that if the SSP failed to show up at the next hearing, orders for his arrest would be issued. He will then have to obtain bail from the Supreme Court, the SHC bench warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2011.