Reservations: ‘Recovered persons not helping judiciary in finding missing persons’

PHC summons FC major in a missing person’s case.

PESHAWAR:

The judiciary has been struggling to recover missing persons, but once they reach home, they do not come forward to assist in recovery of other persons.

These concerns were expressed by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on Thursday.

The remarks were passed after Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Iqbal Mohmand informed the court that Yar Badshah, who went missing from Mohmand Agency, was shifted to the internment centre in Ghallani Tehsil on Wednesday.

“It is good. At least his family would be satisfied,” said Justice Dost. According to a petition filed with the court, Badshah was picked up by the political administration in 2011.

In another case, the court ordered the DAG to produce Colonel Aziz before the court when the petitioner of Mir Muhammad Nazir, who went missing from Peshawar in 2009, alleged that the colonel, deployed at Frontier Corps (FC) Headquarters in Balahisar, was in contact with Nazir before he went missing.

Major Iqbal, who appeared on behalf of the FC inspector general, sought time from the court, saying that the officials assigned to deal with the issue were out of station.

The petitioner also informed the court that Mazhar of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had demanded Rs150,000 for Nazir’s recovery. The court asked the petitioner to bring the matter into IB director’s notice.

The court also summoned the political administration of Mohmand to inform them about whereabouts of Habibullah, who went missing from the agency.

In another petition, Moazzama Bibi, a resident of Sakha Kot, accused the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of picking up her husband Qari Mujeeb in 2009.

Gul Rehman, Bibi’s counsel, informed the court they have received information from their “sources” that Mujeeb was in ISI’s custody in Peshawar.

While hearing another case, the chief justice asked DSP Hayatabad Raheem Shah to probe into reports of SHO Hayatabad Rajab Ali having set up detention centres.

“We have been informed that Ali has set up private detention centres and possesses 18 vehicles,” said the CJ.

The plea for another “missing person”, Umer Bacha, was disposed of when the police produced documents proving that Bacha was a proclaimed offender charged for robbery.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2012.