LHC wants ex-serviceman in court on 28th

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered authorities to present a missing ex-serviceman in court on June 28, while also directing the government to arrange a meeting between the retired lieutenant colonel and his family.

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan of the LHC Rawalpindi Bench on Thursday issued notices to the Ministry of Defense, the Federation of Pakistan, and the deputy attorney general.

The bench was hearing a petition filed through Inamur Rahiem Advocate against the enforced disappearance of Lt Col (retd) Hasan bin Aftab.

Rahiem said Aftab had a distinguished 27-year career in the military, retiring in 2019 with commendable performance reviews.

He said Aftan had been living as a civilian for the past five years. However, he was taken into custody from Rawalpindi on September 27, 2023, and has been missing for the past nine months.

According to the lawyer, the authorities kept his detention a secret from September 2023 to December 2023. When the sick colonel's condition deteriorated, he was admitted to CMH for a pancreatic operation.