SHC seeks reply on petitions pertaining to missing citizens

Court furious over suspension of paychecks of missing govt employees

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought a reply from the Federal Home Secretary and others on petitions related to the recovery of more than 30 missing persons.

The court remarked that at the next hearing, the military court should find out whether the missing person Yusuf was convicted or not.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro heard petitions for the recovery of more than 30 missing persons including Waqar Rehman, Muhammad Yusuf and Ghulam Shabbir.

The lawyer of the missing citizen stated that there is a state within a state. "Here even the Sindh IGP goes missing, no one knows," the counsel said.

The court was outraged by the traditional police reports on the issue of missing persons. The court was also angry over the suspension of salaries of missing government employees.

Justice Kalhoro remarked, "What kind of responsibility the state is showing? Paychecks of missing citizens have also been stopped."

The court ordered immediate release of salaries of the missing head constable and school teacher.

The complainant's counsel stated that Muhammad Waqar has been missing since 2015. "As many as 18 JITs have been formed so far. No clues to the missing persons," the counsel argued.

The court sought a report from the investigation officer regarding the missing citizen Yusuf.

The court issued show cause notice to the IO concerned for not knowing the name of a missing citizen. The court ordered the deployment of competent officers for the investigation of missing persons.

The court sought reply from the Federal Secretary Home Affairs and others regarding the missing persons till February 22.

Hearing postponed

The hearing of Sulaiman Lashari murder case was postponed due to the absence of complainant’s counsel. The case has been pending for the last six months.

The special anti-terrorism court granted the complainant’s counsel a deadline for final arguments. Suleiman Lashari’s murder case was heard before a special court at the Anti-Terrorism Complex in the Karachi Central Jail. Accused Salman Abro was produced in the court. The complainant’s counsel again requested adjournment of the hearing.

“Senior lawyer Salahuddin Panhwer Advocate is out of town,” the junior lawyer said. The court was furious when the counsel did not appear for the case. The court granted the complainant’s counsel a deadline for final arguments.

The court remarked that if the complainant’s counsel did not appear at the next hearing, the court proceedings would be taken up.

The court adjourned the case till February 1. Suleiman Lashari was assassinated in 2014.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2022.