Missing persons: PHC directs quick listing of low-profile militants

Peshawar High Court issues notices to police, political administration officials.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the quarters concerned to expedite the process of enlisting the [low profile] category B and C militants after the bench was requested to allow some time for the completion of the list.

Earlier, the court had issued directives that militants of the category B and C be identified and set free on strong surety bonds.

Hearing Marawar Jana’s plea, PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, while heading a divisional bench with Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk, was informed by Deputy Attorney General Iqbal Mohmand that Tayef, brother of the allegedly detained Arif, had been shifted to an internment centre in Kohat. However, he added that both the defence and interior ministries denied to have picked Arif.

Marawar Jana alleged the security agencies have picked Arif, who went missing from Darra Adamkhel.

The court was informed that the list of the category B and C militants was being prepared but will take some time.

“You people have delayed the process. If you cannot do it, tell us we will call them (security agencies) and enquire about the reasons for the delay,” Justice Khan said.

In another case, the PHC summoned Shakil Ahmad, tehsildar of Jamrud in Khyber Agency, for allegedly arresting a child named Iqbal Hussain and gave a week’s deadline to the provincial police chief and capital city police officer to close down the three illegal torture cells identified in an inquiry report of the PHC.

The court also directed the police officials to seriously consider the matter of illegal torture cells as the court suspected the torture cells could be used in future for the same purpose.

In the third case, the PHC gave the Hayababad deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Shahnawaz 10 days to submit his reply after Raees, in a writ petition, alleged SHO Rajab Ali and the DSP picked Hussain Wali and Ajmal soon after they were released from the Peshawar Central Prison on March 20, 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2012.