KARACHI – The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday issued notices to the director generals (DGs) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), and the Sindh Home Department secretary seeking explanation over the disappearance of two Malir judicial staffers.
The SHC division bench comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Shahid Anwar Bajwa was hearing a constitutional petition moved by Shah Muhammad Brohi seeking the whereabouts of his brother, Shafqat Brohi – a bailiff in Malir district courts – and clerk Aga Yasir.
Citing the DGs of ISI and Rangers, home secretary, Sindh inspector general of police among others as respondents, the petitioner submitted that his brother was abducted by intelligence agencies on February 22 from the Malir area.
He stated that his brother was returning home from office at around 4pm when he was picked up by intelligence personnel, who have taken him away to an undisclosed location. The plaintiff, through his counsel Khawaj Azeem advocate, submitted that since the abduction of Shafqat, he has been asking the police officials and other high-ups for his brother’s whereabouts, but so far no response has been received.
He maintained that his brother has never been involved in any crime or illegal activities, but was abducted by the law enforcers without any justification, adding that his brother should be brought before the court, if he is involved in any offence. After hearing the petitioners’ preliminary comments, the court issued notices to the respondents and ordered them to submit their comments by March 1.
BOYCOTT: All legal activities remained suspended in the lower courts of the city for the third consecutive day on Saturday as employees of all five district courts joined the boycott of court proceedings against the disappearance of their two colleagues, Mohammed Shafqat Brohi and Agha Yasir, missing since February 22.
The courts’ staffers observed a complete strike of the proceedings and also staged a sit-in outside the court premises, vowed to continue the boycott of courts until the recovery of their colleagues.
The staffers and lawyers representative bodies accused the intelligence agencies of involvement in the abduction of both the staffers. The protesters said that despite the passage of three days, no report has been received about their whereabouts.
The protest call was announced by All Sindh Subordinate Judicial Welfare Association (ASSJWA) demanding that the government locate the whereabouts of the missing men. The call was later supported by the Karachi and Malir bar associations, showing their sympathy with the court staffers. The lawyers also joined the protest and did not attend the courts.
The Karachi Bar Association has demanded the early recovery of the lower court employees and announced that the lawyer fraternity will continue their support to the ASSJWA.
The two employees of Malr courts had gone missing on the evening of February 22 on their way to home. After the interference of Sindh High Court Chief Justice, a case was lodged on their disappearance on Feb 25.
