Unlawful detention: Notice issued to federal, provincial authorities

Sindh High Court hears plea on the alleged unlawful detention of nine MQM workers.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday issued notice to the federal and provincial governments and their law enforcement agencies over the alleged illegal detention of nine workers belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The deputy attorney general and provincial advocate general were also directed to file their comments in this regard by June 14.

On Tuesday, the MQM had gone to the court against the alleged unlawful detention of its workers.

Party leader Dr Farooq Sattar had named the federal interior ministry, Sindh home department, provincial chiefs of the Rangers, police and several police stations’ house officers as respondents in the case.

Nawab Mirza, the petitioner’s lawyer, told the judges that police and Rangers personnel have picked up nine MQM workers from various parts of the city since April.

“They are still missing and their whereabouts are unknown,” he claimed. “Neither the detainees had been produced before any magistrate nor had any arrest been claimed at any of the police stations concerned.”

MQM’s lawyer alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to obtain confessional statements from the MQM activists for the purpose of a media trial against the MQM. He further claimed that the detainees were being subjected to torture during their unlawful confinement.

Mirza pleaded to the court to direct the police and other law enforcement agencies to produce all the detainees before the court and order their release.