Enforced disappearances: IGP, chief secretary and home secretary summoned

Officials asked to submit report on meetings held by joint investigation teams.

PESHAWAR:

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has summoned Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Inspector General Police (IGP) Ihsan Ghani, Chief Secretary Muhammad Shehzad and Home Secretary Akhtar Ali Shah on September 18.

The officials have been summoned to submit a report on general issues including meetings for detained suspected militants with their families, along with meetings of joint investigation teams pertaining to those held in internment centres across K-P and the tribal areas, an officer familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune on Friday.



Another officer requesting anonymity said a total of 82 alleged militants detained in various internment centres have been handed over to the Provincial Task Force (PTF) which was bound to submit its report in 15 days as per the regulations of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

“The PTF has not held a meeting yet, while the reports presented by joint investigation teams have no conclusions,” said the official. He added the joint investigation teams had held 15 meetings over one case, but were still unable to decide if it was an enforced disappearance or not.

According to sources, the summoned officials will also submit their reply on 360 applications of different families who allege their missing relatives are currently in the custody of security agencies. Some of the missing persons have reached home, however, there are still over 400 habeas corpus petitions being heard at the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

On August 21, the families of hundreds of missing persons held a protest outside the PHC and demanded the immediate release of their missing relatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.