Proven militants: 22 detainees placed in black category

PESHAWAR:

The Lakki Marwat internment centre oversight board has placed 22 detainees in the black category of proven militants and listed five in the grey category of suspected militants.

A report of the investigation was presented before the Peshawar High Court by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs department on Wednesday. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Muhammad Daud Khan was hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Ayub.

The detainees had been whisked away from different parts of the province on different occasions between 2009 and 2012. Of these, six individuals were previously missing and later found incarcerated at the centre and placed in the black category. They were identified as Akbar Ali, Mian Anwer, Abdullah, Mulazim Hussain, Muhammad Asif and Imdad Hussain. Those placed in the category of suspected militants include the petitioner’s brother Asghar Khan, Inamullah, Muhammad Hayat, Zamir Gul and Abdul Khaliq.

Care of the missing persons

During the course of the hearing, the court was informed a hospital has been established at the internment centre. Two male nurses and one medical officer are on duty there. Specialist physicians are called in when detainees require advanced medical assistance.

The court also sought reports of missing persons Khalil Khan, Muhammad Yousaf and Danishmand. The petition of Mohajara Bibi was disposed of after the court learnt the previously missing person, Nafees, has returned home safely.

Section 14 of the Action (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation 2011 says, “The governor shall notify an oversight board for each internment centre comprising two civilians and two military officers to review the case of each person interned within a period of 120 days from the issuance of order of internment.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2015.