Incriminating law enforcement : Inquiry reveals police involvement in a case of kidnapping

Former PHC CJ had taken suo motu notice of an application regarding 16 bodies found in sacks.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court learnt on Tuesday about the involvement of two police officials in a missing person’s case. The case is ongoing at a trial court and both officers have been granted bail.

The body of Qazi Baseer Ahmad was found in Lasa Nawab, Mansehra, Additional Advocate General Mian Arshad Jan told Chief Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain.

A petition filed by Baseer’s father Fazal Ahmad, from Cherat Road, Pabbi, stated his son was picked by unidentified people last year. It added some police officials had handed him over to a secret agency. Baseer’s family approached the PHC and filed a petition regarding his disappearance; later his body was found in a sack from Mansehra.

The PHC then ordered an FIR be registered against the relevant police officials. The police department conducted an inquiry which found SHO Ajmeer Shah, ASI Naik Sir Ali and head constable Sheraz were involved in the case. Shah was later killed in a suicide attack.

A trial looking into their involvement has started, and the police officials were bailed from the same trial court.

After hearing all case updates, the bench disposed Baseer’s father’s petition and adjourned proceedings.

Former PHC chief justice Dost Muhammad Khan had taken suo motu notice of the application filed by Human Rights Directorate. The application contained a report which stated 16 bodies had been found in gunny sacks on August 16, 2012. After taking notice, the PHC bench directed both the provincial and federal governments to explain who is responsible for these killings.

Expediency

Under a new policy, there will be no unnecessary adjournment of cases in a bid to reduce pendency, stated Justice Mulk at another hearing on Tuesday. If lawyers do not show up at proceedings, they will be given a day to attend court, he added.

Awarding degrees

Meanwhile, a separate bench issued a stay order, restraining University of Engineering and Technology from giving extra exams to 130 students.

The order was issued by Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ikramullah Khan while hearing the petition of 130 students through their lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi. The bench was informed that the students had earlier enrolled in and completed their coursework for electrical communication. The counsel shared the students had taken their exams and results had been announced in February last year.

However, the Pakistan Engineering Council is not willing to award degrees to them, setting a condition whereby the students will have to take and pass exams in additional subjects before graduating.

Advocate Latif Afridi informed the bench, in the given circumstances, being tested in additional subjects is against the law.

After hearing preliminary arguments from the petitioners’ counsel, the court issued a stay order, restraining UET from assessing students in additional subjects. Comments have been sought by relevant officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2014.