PHC issues notices in missing persons cases

Orders inquiry into PAF retiree's abduction by Kohat police

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) during a hearing on petitions regarding the recovery of nine missing persons from various areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, issued notices to both the federal and provincial governments, seeking formal responses.

The court also directed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police to initiate a departmental inquiry against the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Station House Officer (SHO) involved in allegedly abducting a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) retiree from Kohat, who was later implicated in a drug case two months after his disappearance.

The single-member bench, headed by Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah, presided over the proceedings. During the hearing, the Deputy Attorney General, Additional Advocate General, and the government's focal person for missing persons appeared before the court.

In the case filed by Syedan Shah, Additional Advocate General Inamullah Yousafzai informed the court that allegations had been leveled against the relevant SHO. The court directed all concerned parties, including the SHO, to submit their reports.

In the petition filed by Mujahid Khan, the court was informed that no reports had yet been submitted. Expressing displeasure, the Chief Justice asked, "Why are you wasting time? Submit the report."

The government's focal person for missing persons further disclosed that the provincial government had also not submitted its reports in several cases.

In the case of petitioner Muhammad Saeed, the court was informed that the individual in question was currently imprisoned in Mardan and facing registered cases. The court dismissed the petition as infructuous.

In another case, the court was told that the missing individual mentioned in Adnan Hakeem Khan's petition was being held at a detention center in Lakki Marwat. The court then sought a report from the Commissioner of Bannu.

During the hearing of Muhammad Habib's petition, the petitioner personally appeared before the court and stated that Kohat police had forcibly taken him from his home on November 24. He claimed that his home was ransacked, and he was unlawfully detained for two months. A retired member of the Pakistan Air Force and an elderly citizen, Habib alleged he was tortured in custody and later falsely implicated in a drug case.

In response, Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah remarked, "Since you have now been recovered, this petition has become infructuous. However, you may file a new petition."