KARACHI, July 2: The Sindh High Court issued notices to the respondent provincial and federal government authorities on Wednesday in a writ petition alleging unlawful confinement of a human rights activist since March 21.

Advocate Noor Naz Agha submitted on behalf of petitioner Leela that her son, Krishna Sharma, was taken into custody while travelling by a coach from Mithi to Karachi.

The coach was intercepted at a ranger check-post at Naukot for normal checking.

A federal investigation unit (FIU) team, led by Major Tasleem Babar, picked up Sharma and three other passengers, who were subsequently let off. Another passenger Akhtar Baloch was also arrested at Hyderabad but he, too, was released soon afterwards.

The lawyer alleged that Sharma was still at the FIU’s detention centre at Nazimabad, Karachi. He had not been produced before any magistrate and no case had been registered against.

The petitioner apprehended that the detenu might be killed in an encounter to cover up his illegal confinement.

A division bench, comprising Justices S. Ahmed Sarwana and Mushir Alam, directed that notices be issued to the respondent authorities for July 4.