IHC orders recovery of missing teen

Sets September 10 deadline for recovery of Faizan Usman

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has set a deadline of September 10 for the recovery of 18-year-old Faizan Usman, who has been missing from the federal capital for two months.

The court directed the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad to seek assistance from any necessary sources to ensure Faizan's recovery.

During the hearing, Justice Babar Sattar expressed serious concern over the rising number of missing persons cases, suggesting that individuals appear to be taken without any fear of consequences. He emphasised that the protection of citizens is the police's primary responsibility, and if they fail, the courts will step in.

Justice Sattar highlighted the alarming nature of these incidents, where individuals are often abducted from their homes, sometimes without even the local station house officer (SHO) being aware. He pointed out that despite the secrecy, it is widely understood how these incidents typically unfold.

The court was hearing the plea for Faizan Usman's recovery, but despite previous orders, he has not yet been produced before the court. The additional attorney general requested an extension of two to three days. Islamabad IG Ali Nasir Rizvi informed the court that he had met with Faizan's father and reviewed footage related to the incident. The footage shows vehicles and masked individuals, but the faces in the second footage remain unclear.

The IG reported that he has contacted the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence for information about the vehicles involved. However, the Safe City project's footage retention is limited to one month, complicating the investigation since the incident occurred two months ago. Faizan's last known locations were traced to Islamabad and later to Lahore on August 17. The IG has also sought assistance from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to track the mobile phone's IMEI number.

When asked if the ISI had been contacted, as there were allegations that Faizan was picked up by ISI personnel, the IG responded that the Ministry of Defence had been approached. Justice Babar Sattar directed the IG to contact the ISI directly, noting that it falls under the prime minister's jurisdiction, not the Ministry of Defence.

The court granted an extension until Monday and adjourned the hearing until September 10, instructing the IG to present a final report at the next hearing.