The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the interior secretary, police and district administration regarding a petition seeking the recovery of a retired brigadier who went missing on Oct 10, a local media house reported.
A habeas corpus petition was filed by Ali Rizwan, the son of Brigadier (r) Raja Rizwan Ali Haider through his counsel Lt-Col (r) Inamur Rahim Khawaja, which was heard by IHC Judge Justice Aamer Farooq.
The court sought a report from the respondent authorities in a fortnight and adjourned the hearing. The petition said, “Haider had been living in his home in Islamabad since his retirement”.
According to the petition, “On Oct 10, Haider and his driver, Waseem Akbar went to meet a friend in G-10, at 7 pm and that he reached street-17, G-10/2 near Sabri Naan Centre at around 8 pm. He stopped to buy some edibles and told his driver that he would be coming shortly. He went inside Street 16 and his driver kept waiting for him in his car. The driver kept waiting till late at night but Haider did not and his mobile phone was switched off.”
“When he had not returned by 3 am, the driver informed Haider’s family members who immediately started a search for him in the surrounding areas but his friends and relatives did not find any clue. Subsequently, his son lodged an FIR with the Ramna police on Oct 11,” the petition further stated.
The petition said that “around 9 pm on Oct 11, the police brought sniffer digs and started a search from Street 16 in G-10/2. The sniffer dogs stopped at a house in the street”.
The petition said, “The witness reported that he tried to make a video on his mobile phone but the abductors threatened him and told him they were from the police.”
“The police have registered a case under section 365 of the PPC and further investigation is underway with no clue of the person so far. According to the police, Haider’s mobile phone is switched off but they have obtained call data record of the victim. They said there were no signs that he was taken somewhere forcibly.”
