'Rs5m given to family of missing person'

Defence officials deliver in-camera briefing to Islamabad High Court

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Monday that the government had transferred Rs5 million in financial assistance to the account of the family of missing citizen Omar Abdullah.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani presided over the hearing of a petition filed by Zainab Zaeem, the wife of Omar Abdullah.

The missing man's father, Advocate Khalid Abbasi, apprised the court of the development. Representatives from the Ministry of Defence were also present and delivered an in-camera briefing to the bench.

During the proceedings, the Additional Attorney General submitted a report concerning the missing citizen and requested that the court examine it prior to the in-camera briefing.

The missing man's father informed the court that the government had transferred financial assistance of Rs5m to the account of Omar Abdullah's wife in accordance with the court's order.

The petitioner's counsel highlighted the authorities' failure to implement the IHC's 2018 directives. He reminded the court that in 2017 the investigating officer had admitted that Omar Abdullah was a victim of enforced disappearance and in the custody of a security agency. In 2018, the IHC had imposed fines on the then Inspector General, the Interior and Defence Secretaries, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the investigating officer.

He further argued that no action had been taken to enforce the court's orders. Justice Kayani questioned what measures had been taken against the then Inspector General, observing that he had likely retired.

The counsel also sought an explanation regarding the SSP and investigating officer implicated in the case, noting that despite the court's order for deductions from their salaries, they continued to receive their pay and pensions.

The court indicated that it would record the lack of compliance with its previous order in the day's proceedings. The hearing was subsequently adjourned.