January 12, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 21, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 11: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has again directed the ministries of interior and foreign affairs to explain the circumstances of detention of a Pakistani citizen, Majid Khan, at the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.The court issued the directives here on Thursday while hearing a petition filed by Rabia Yaqoob, wife of Mr Khan.

Ms Yaqoob told the court – comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Ali Sain Dino Metlo – that some anonymous caller was forcing her to withdraw the petition if she wanted the safe return of her husband, suspected of having links with Al Qaeda.

She said her husband was taken into custody along with other members of the family in March 2003. While others were freed, there was no clue to her husband’s whereabouts till she received his Eid greetings from Guantanamo Bay through the International Red Cross in October 2006, she added.

The petitioner submitted through her counsel, Nisar A Mujahid, that she recently received another letter from Mr Khan which said that he was not optimistic about his release.

She requested the court to ask the interior ministry as to how and why her husband was taken into custody and handed over to the US authorities for detention at the Guantanamo Bay. The also requested the court to direct the foreign ministry to take measures for his early release and his well-being.

The court took a serious note of the absence of any federal law officer to answer the petitioner’s allegations and re-issued notices to the two ministries and other respondents.

Hearing of the petition seeking Khan’s release was adjourned till January 23.

Meanwhile, replying to a court query about the case of Saifullah Paracha, another Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Advocate Mujahid said the foreign ministry had started sending quarterly reports about his condition as directed by the court.

Advocate Mujahid also represents petitioner Farhat Paracha, wife of Mr Paracha.