PHC takes up seven missing persons' cases

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday heard seven petitions seeking the recovery of missing persons, referring one case to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, while disposing of two petitions after the missing individuals returned home.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Justice SM Atiq Shah conducted the hearing. During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners, the Deputy Attorney General, Additional Advocate General, and focal persons from relevant government departments appeared before the court.

Counsel for petitioner Hira Shah informed the court that her husband had been picked up by unidentified men and remained missing. She further alleged that unidentified persons were now harassing her, upon which the court issued notices to the concerned authorities seeking a detailed response.

In another case, the court was told that a seventh-grade student and his companion had gone missing and their whereabouts remained unknown. The bench sought reports from the federal and provincial governments as well as other relevant parties.

During the hearing of petitioner Wazir Muhammad's case, the court was informed that the citizen had been missing for over a year, and police had submitted a report confirming he was not in their custody. The Additional Advocate General stated that the petitioner's four sons had been missing since 2024. The bench subsequently referred two of the cases to the Missing Persons Commission for further inquiry.

The court was also informed by counsel representing Mudassir and Muhammad Bilal that both men, who had gone missing from Swabi, had safely returned home. Consequently, the court disposed of their petitions.