Missing MQM activist returns after six years

A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist missing for the past six years appeared before the Sindh High Court in the case of missing persons.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Nimatullah Phulpoto winding up the missing petition of Muhammad Javed Khan issued orders to the relevant officers to restore his identity card. During the hearing Justice Phulpotu asked, "Where were you? Who took you into custody?"

Just recovered missing person Muhammad Javed Khan replied, "I do not know anything."

Justice Phulpoto asked Javed to fearlessly tell the court the details of the agency and the personnel responsible for his enforced disappearance. "These disclosures will help others," he added.

However, Javed insisted that he does not know who took him and where he was kept, "I was blindfolded and hauled away to an unknown place."

Justice Phulpoto was unsatisfied with the reply and said, "Were you kept blindfolded for six years?"

However, Javed reiterated that he was arrested due to political affiliation and kept at an unidentified location. "Six years later, my captives blindfolded me again, drove me to a road, gave me Rs500 for bus fare and left."

Apparently, the recovered missing person refused to share details of his captivity out of fear of his captives.

The petitioner's lawyer submitted that the citizen's identity card was blocked and should be restored. Restoration on the job should also be ordered.

The government advocate stated that the identity card and job restoration cannot be decided on the basis of this application.

The court remarked why it could not be? The agency picked him up and kept him absent for so many years.

The court ordered the restoration of his identity card of Muhammad Javed Khan. The court disposed of the application after the recovery of Muhammad Javed Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2023.