Missing man: Deputy attorney general put on notice

Petitioner says his brother is in ISI’s custody.

KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Nadeem Akhtar on Thursday put deputy attorney general Pakistan on notice for April 13 after a petitioner alleged that his brother, missing for the last one year, is in the custody of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

The bench earlier heard counsel for petitioner, Qabil Khoso, who alleged that on March 16, 2011, he was coming to Sukkur along with his brother, Sohbat Khoso, and friend Akhtar Chandio when near Ranipur, a police party including men in civvies intercepted the bus they were travelling in. The police whisked away his brother and friend while he was let off after torture.

The petitioner moved the high court after which his friend Akhtar Khoso was produced before court and shown as accused in a railway track blast case. His brother Sohbat Khoso, however, remains untraceable.

When case came up for hearing on Thursday, comments were filed by SSP Khairpur while a number of police officers were also in attendance. SSP Khairpur in his comments disputed the allegation that the missing man was in the custody of law enforcing agencies.

As the counsel for petitioner told the court that as per their information, missing man was with ISI, the bench ordered notices to DAG and asked him to inquire from ISI and inform the court about their reply by April 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2012.