IHC orders police to locate missing person within 3 days, otherwise action will be taken

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the police to trace missing citizen Samiullah within three days, failing which a criminal case would be filed against the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police for his negligence.

A single-bench bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, issued the directions during the hearing of a habeas corpus case filed by Muhammad Khurram Javed, seeking the return of his brother Samiullah as he had gone missing from the jurisdiction of Sangjani police station.

During the hearing, in compliance with the court order dated 15.7.2024, a progress report was submitted on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad. However, the court declared the report “not satisfactory” and said that it “reflects poor performance of the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad even as he could not locate the vehicle used in the abduction of detenu, which is clearly visible in the video evidence.”

Justice Kayani in his order noted, “The Inspector General of Police Islamabad is given three days’ time to file the chargesheet. Failing which, a criminal case will be registered against the Inspector General of Police Islamabad for his negligence and poor performance.” The petitioner’s lawyer informed the court that though the Safe City CCTV cameras did not yield any useful evidence, footage of the vehicle used in the abduction was available.

In this case, the petitioner, brother of the prisoner Sami Ullah Khan, has filed this petition for recovery of his brother, who was allegedly abducted by unknown persons on 09.7.2024 from Sector D-12, Islamabad. The case FIR No.561 dated 10.7.2024 u/s 365 PPC PS Sangjani, Islamabad has been registered. However, the prisoner has not been recovered yet.

The counsel for the plaintiff submitted that the alleged abducted person was taken into custody by the elite Islamabad police but according to his information, he was taken to an intelligence vehicle on the basis of video evidence. The plaintiff is willing to provide the said video to the concerned IO.

He further alleged that despite registration of FIR detenu has not been recovered. He also alleged that it is a case of enforced disappearance. Later Justice Kayani adjourned the hearing of the case till July 23 and directed the registrar to present the case before an available court on that date.