IHC seeks reports on missing brothers

Orders SSPs of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to appear in person on Thursday along with progress reports

ISLAMABAD:

The capital's high court on Monday castigated authorities for their failure to recover four brothers who went missing from Islamabad in January this year while also seeking reports from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the senior superintendents of police (SSP) in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to appear in person at the next hearing along with progress reports, warning that otherwise it would issue their arrest warrants. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued these directives while hearing a case with regard to the alleged enforced disappearance of four brothers from the Barakahu area of the federal capital.

Appearing on behalf of the mother of the missing persons, Mufeed Khan Advocate stated that the brothers were picked up by Rawalpindi police from Khanna, within the Islamabad jurisdiction in January. Now, police authorities of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi claim they did not detain them.

Justice Farooq expressed his anger over the absence of the Rawalpindi SSP and rejected the excuse that he could not appear due to roadblocks. He remarked, "Will he always remain on the way? It gives the impression that the police are involved in this matter. Where are the abductees?" "Should I issue an arrest warrant for the SP? Tell him to appear before the court next time."

The judge also expressed his wonder at police station house officers (SHOs) owning residences in the capital's posh F-6 and F-7 localities. He asked what the salary of an SHO was. When informed that an SHO could earn Rs150,000 at the most, the judge asked as to how a person earning Rs150,000 can possess a house at F-6 and F-7.

The court later summoned the SSPs of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to appear in person on Thursday, instructing both officers to present a progress report, explaining why the abductees have not yet been recovered.