Court seeks report on torture of Baig

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the district magistrate and the Islamabad Police Inspector-General to probe the alleged torture of media personality Mohsin Jameel Baig in police custody and submit a report at the next hearing on February 21.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Baig's wife, seeking dismissal of terrorism and other charges against him.

The judge observed that the allegations of torture and no access to a legal team for the accused were serious as the basic rights of an individual cannot be suspended even after arrest.

He ordered the district magistrate to conduct an inspection of the Margalla Police Station, observing that if torturing of the accused were proved, then action would be taken against the responsible officials.

The IHC chief justice also summoned the advocate general at the next hearing in the same case. The court, however, asked the petitioner to amend its plea as only the accused could file a case for termination of the first information reports against him.

The court also accepted the application of the defence side for a medical check-up of the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2022.