The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), formed for the recovery of missing persons, to produce the two missing activists of the Hizbut Tahrir (HuT) on May 14th before the court. Observing that no serious attempt has been made by the JIT for the recovery of the missing persons, the court directed the JIT to make serious efforts towards the recovery of the missing persons, who had allegedly been picked up by the agencies for their connections with the defunct organisation HuT.
In case the JIT fails to recover the missing persons, the court ordered that the members of the JIT shall appear before the court and appraise it about the efforts they have made for the recovery of the missing activists.
A single member bench comprising of Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman resumed the hearing of a petition filed through Advocate Umar Hayat Sindhu, regarding the abduction of Dr Abdul Qayyum and Dr Muhammad Waheed.
The JIT, which is being formed for the recovery of the missing persons, comprised of DPO Rahim Yar Khan, RPO, SSP, DSP, Lt Irfan of the Defense ministry, Major (r) Attique of the Intelligence Bureau, Lt Col Asim of Military Intelligence and Lt Col Tahir of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
The counsel for the petitioner, Umer Hayat Sandhu, contended that six individuals were abducted by the agencies on suspicion of their alleged links with the banned militant outfit, out of which four, namely Imran Yousafzai, Hayyan Dawar Khan, Usama Hanif and Abdul Wajid, were released later.
One of the released abductees, Imran Yousafzai, while recording his statement before the magistrate, revealed that Major Tariq of the ISI had abducted him from Peshawar Mor in Islamabad.
He requested the court to issue directions to the intelligence agencies to ensure the recovery of his client’s relatives who had allegedly been picked by the agencies for being connected with HuT.
However, Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri held that the MI and ISI had already submitted their written statement, saying that the missing persons were not in their custody.
He informed the court that an FIR had been registered in the Saddar police station, Rahim Yar Khan. He informed that the JIT is investigating the matter and that a petition has also been recorded.
He added that matter has been referred to the commission of enquiry on enforced disappearances.
