PHC questions delay in levies merger

Also takes up petitions on alleged enforced diappearances

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday addressed multiple petitions concerning enforced disappearances and the delayed merger of former Levies personnel into the provincial police force.

In a hearing presided over by Chief Justice Justice SM Atiq Shah, the court took up four writ petitions seeking the recovery of missing persons. Two of the petitions were transferred to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances for further proceedings. One petition was disposed of, while notices were issued to police authorities in the remaining case, requiring a detailed response.

During arguments, counsel for one petitioner informed the court that the applicant's two relatives had been allegedly detained by personnel from Sarband and Mardan police stations. The lawyer claimed police were demanding Rs400,000 for their release and had even sent photographs of the detained individuals to the family. The petitioner stated that the family lacked the funds to meet the alleged ransom.

Addressing the Additional Advocate General, the Chief Justice directed an immediate personal review of the matter. The bench ordered a comprehensive report from police on the allegations of unlawful detention and adjourned further hearing.

In a separate case heard by Justice Naeem Anwar, the court adjourned until April 14 a contempt of court petition filed by Ghulam Gul and others from Mohmand district. The petitioners accused the provincial government of failing to integrate 55 former Khasadar (Levies) personnel into the police force, despite a 2024 Peshawar High Court directive to merge former FATA Khasadar forces into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police.