Orakzai PA, Kohat prison superintendent summoned

PHC seeks report on three men arrested from provincial capital and traced to Kohat prison.

PESHAWAR: Orakzai Agency’s political agent (PA) and Kohat district prison’s SP have been summoned in court over the case of three men who were arrested from Peshawar and remained missing for months before being traced to Kohat.

Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Muhammad Daud Khan issued the order while hearing eight petitions on enforced disappearances on Thursday. As the bench took up the petitions, Muhammad Jamil, counsel for petitioner Syed Aziz, told the court his client’s relatives Muhammad Khalid, Abdul Wahid and Jalal were arrested from Warsak Road and their whereabouts remained unknown for nine months.

According to Jamil, the family later learnt that the three missing men were being detained at Kohat prison. The family has no knowledge of the charges under which their relatives have been incarcerated, said the lawyer.

Upon hearing his arguments, the court ordered the political agent of Orakzai Agency and SP of Kohat prison to appear in person at the next hearing with a complete record of the case and explain their position.

Separately, the court also disposed of two petitions after Additional Advocate General Qaiser Ali Shah produced oversight board reports declaring the two inmates, Usmanullah and Muhammad Hayat, ‘proven militants’ as they fell under the black category.

The bench also sought a complete report from Peshawar commissioner in the case of Bilal, son of Amir Nawaz, who is detained at Fort Slope in Khyber Agency and ordered that Bilal’s family be allowed to visit him at the centre.

Similarly, the PA of Mohmand Agency was directed to submit a comprehensive report regarding Ghaniur Rehman who is detained in the agency.

The PHC also directed the government to ensure all facilities are available in internment centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2015.