Ex-jailer's recovery case adjourned

The Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the recovery case of former Deputy Superintendent Adiala Jail Muhammad Akram till September 10, declaring the issue of missing persons had become very alarming in Pakistan.

Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, who was hearing the case, remarked that whatever was happening in the country, the people of Pakistan had lost confidence.

"The allegation the petitioner [the wife of Akram] is now levelling against the second raid in their residential property is very serious. The security of the family should be ensured," the judge noted. Ex-DS Muhammad Akram's wife Maimoona Riaz and her lawyer Iman Mazari appeared in the court. The Rawalpindi City Police Officer, the SSP Investigation and officials of the Saddar Bairuni police also appeared before the court.

At the outset of the hearing, the court inquired from the Rawalpindi CPO whether there was any clue regarding Muhammad Akram. To this, the CPO replied that the police were working to recover Akram.

The petitioner's counsel informed the court that officials in both uniform and plain clothes entered his client's house, 'harassed' her and also searched the official residence inside Adiala Jail.

The judge observed that the allegations were a serious matter and ordered the Rawalpindi CPO to ensure the safety of Akram's family and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.