PESHAWAR, Dec 1: District and sessions judge Hayat Ali Shah dismissed on Monday a habeas corpus petition challenging detention of an Al Qaeda suspect.

The petition was filed by Jehan Ara, wife of Sajjad Hussain, stating that her husband was taken into custody and had not been produced before any court of law since Nov 13.

The Crimes Investigation Department (CID), however, expressed ignorance about the detention of Mr Hussain. The CID officials in their reply informed the court that neither they had raided the residence of Sajjad Hussain nor were they aware about his whereabouts.

The court observed that as Sajjad Hussain was not found in the CID centre, therefore, the petition had become infructuous.

Although, the agencies concerned claimed at the time of Sajjad Hussain’s arrest that he was an Afghan national, his wife claimed that he was a Pakistani and also possessed a national identity card.

The court on Nov 24 had deputed a bailiff to search the CID centre for Sajjad Hussain. The bailiff informed the court that Mr Hussain was not found in the CID centre.

The court had earlier issued notices to the superintendent of police (CID), Zafarullah Khan, DSP Dilawar Bangash, SHO CID police station Kokab Farooq and inspector Munawar Khan.

Advocate Shakeelur Rehman appeared for the petitioner, stating that although the petitioner did not know the names of the officials in the raiding party, she could identify them.

He argued that if the CID was not aware about the detention of Sajjad Hussain then the court might issue them directives for registration of an FIR regarding abduction of Mr Hussain.

The court observed that the petitioner should approach the police station concerned for registration of an FIR and if they declined to register it they could file an application under section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court had also summoned the SHO, CID Centre, Kokab Farooq. The judge told the SHO that in case Mr Hussain was found in custody of the CID legal action would be taken.

The petitioner has claimed that officials of the CID and some other agencies had raided her residence at Danishabad in the jurisdiction of University Town police station.

She stated that the raiding party wanted to know about a Libyan national Adnan who happened to be an acquaintance of her husband. She said her husband expressed ignorance about Adnan’s whereabouts, after which the CID officials took him away with the commitment that he would be allowed to return after initial interrogation.

Ms Jehan Ara stated that she had been visiting the CID centre since then but the officials had not been informing her where her husband had been kept. She claimed that her husband dealt in cloth business also had a cab. She added that neither her husband was required in any case nor had he ever indulged in any criminal activity.

SHERPAO: Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao enquired after the journalist and former chairman of the Peshawar Press Club, Maqbool Kashmiri, on Monday, says APP.