Undetermined circumstances: Man, nephew yet to be served justice

PESHAWAR:

The court has asked heirs of deceased Syed Khan and his nephew Amjad Khan to register cases of their deaths at respective police stations.

Khyber Agency Political Agent Mutahir Zeb informed the bench that the bodies had been recovered in the tribal areas bordering Mattani. Two other bullet-riddled bodies had also been found on November 27. Zeb alleged that they may have been killed in an operation against militants.

CJ Khan asked if any evidence had been gathered to verify if the bullets found in the bodies matched the ammunition that was being supplied to law enforcement agencies. Zeb replied saying that no autopsy facility was available in the agency.

The counsel for the petitioners informed the bench that both Syed and Amjad had been picked up by Paharhi Pura police last year. Amjad’s father filed a habeas corpus petition at the PHC alleging that the Jamrud political administration was detaining his son illegally.

On September 19, the court served the assistant political agent of Jamrud with a notice to appear in court on October 2 and reply to the allegation.

A similar petition was also filed by Yousaf, father of Saeed Khan after Sajid Ali, a resident of Tehkal Bala and a former detainee, informed the court that Amjad was being detained at the same political administrations’ lockup.

Later on November 28, bodies of both Amjad and Syed were recovered from the Shah Kas area of Khyber Agency.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2012.