March 18, 2006	Saturday	Safar 17, 1427

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HYDERABAD, March 17: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, on Friday observed that incidents of people disappearing were on the rise. The court said that allegations were made against law-enforcement agencies, other than local police, that adversely affected the performance of law-enforcers and personnel associated therewith.

The bench comprises Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Shamsuddin Hisbani.

The bench made the observation while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Mohammad Siddique, seeking recovery of his son, Mohammad Umer, who has been missing since August 4, 2004.

The court was told by the petitioner that he had been running from pillar to post as his son Mohammad Umer had been picked up by law-enforcement agencies and his whereabouts were not known.

It directed Lt. Col. Iqbal Hashmi, assistant judge advocate general, General Headquarters, to carry out investigation into allegations and grievance of the petitioner and to ascertain credential of the person to resolve this longstanding controversy.

“The report be submitted to the court within 15 days”, the order said.

The court said the fact was borne out from record of the court as various orders directing law-enforcement agencies, including the secretary interior affairs, Islamabad, have been issued, but without any result.

“The petitioner is a person of advanced age and his anxiety is understandable. Incidents of disappearance of persons without any clue are increasing. Invariably allegations are made against law-enforcement agencies other than local police that is indeed adversely reflecting on performance of law-enforcement agencies and personnel associated therewith”, the high court observed.

It said: “It is noted with deep concern that despite various directions nothing so far has come forward whereby it can be said that the state is discharging its obligation to provide safety and security to the life and liberty of people’’.

Each time officials of one or the other agency appear before the court pleading ignorance but no-one bothered to carry out investigation into whereabouts of missing detained persons.