PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday issued notices to the police and other relevant authorities on three petitions seeking the recovery of missing persons.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SM Attique Shah heard the petitions filed for the recovery of missing persons. Lawyers for the petitioners, the additional advocate general (AAG), and police officials appeared before the court.
During the hearing of a case involving a person missing from the jurisdiction of Shahpur Police Station, the AAG informed the court that in a first information report registered at Chamkani Police Station, the Shahpur Police had arrested the petitioner and handed him over to Chamkani Police.
The person was later sent to jail on judicial remand; however, he had allegedly been kept in illegal custody since he obtained the bail.The chief justice directed authorities to produce the petitioner before the court, saying the person himself should explain who had taken him into custody. He added that if illegal detention was established, legal proceedings would follow.
In another case concerning a person who went missing from Dabgari Garden on May 2, the petitioner’s counsel told the court that the man had arrived there for medical treatment and was allegedly picked up from the area.
The AAG said call data records would be examined to determine from where the person had disappeared.During the hearing of a petition about Sajid Raza, who went missing from the limits of Matani Police Station, the SHO of Matani appeared before the court and denied any involvement or knowledge of the incident.
The chief justice rejected this explanation, observing that it was unacceptable for an SHO to claim ignorance, saying either the officer himself was missing or someone within the system had taken the person into custody. He also rejected the Counter Terrorism Department’s report and directed that a fresh report be submitted.
The court ordered the authorities concerned to recover the missing person and produce him before the court, while issuing notices and adjourning the hearing.
