IHC seeks police report on recovery of missing citizen

ISLAMABAD, Oct 02 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the police to hear both parties and submit a report in the case of the alleged disappearance of a Christian citizen from the federal capital.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the direction during the hearing of a petition filed by a female citizen, Rukhsana, seeking the recovery of her husband, Afzal Masih.

During the hearing, Advocate Zulfiqar Bhatti appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that the petitioner’s husband, Afzal, had gone missing from Malpur area of Barakahu police station limits. He stated that an influential person in the area had accused Afzal of buffalo theft and was keeping him in illegal detention. The petitioner said she approached police but no action was taken.

At this, DSP Legal Islamabad Police Sajid Cheema requested time until Monday, saying the matter would be looked into.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir said there was no time until Monday and directed that the abductee be recovered and produced before the court within an hour.

The court took a break in the hearing with these directions.

When the hearing resumed, Barakahu police produced Raja Yasar and Faisal, named in the petition, before the court. They told the court that the abductee was not in their custody and that they had a financial transaction with him, for which a stamp paper was available.

The stamp paper of the transaction with the citizen was presented in court.

The court sought a report from the SHO Barakahu by Monday after hearing both parties, directing that both parties be summoned and heard by 5 pm, and a report submitted on Monday.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case until Monday.