KARACHI: Expressing displeasure over the performance of police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in locating “missing” persons, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday rejected the reports and directed them to gear up their efforts in this regard.

Headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, a two-judge bench of the high court was hearing a number of constitutional petitions filed for the recovery of 50 people, allegedly picked up by the police and law enforcement agency personnel from the city at different times.

The bench during a previous hearing had expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of joint investigation teams (JITs) and task forces formed to locate “missing” persons, observing that these appeared nothing but a waste of time.

The bench came down hard on the respondent authorities including the Rangers and the home department and directed the police to register a kidnapping case against the law enforcement agencies personnel who had whisked away a citizen.

The court was informed by a petitioner that his younger brother, Irfan Basarat was arrested last year by the Rangers and there was no clue to his whereabouts since his disappearance.

The court directed the senior superintendent of police of Malir district to ensure the recording of the petitioner’s statement and registration of an FIR in this regard.

The petitioners’ lawyers also informed the court that the family members of missing persons were harassed when they lodged complaints against the paramilitary troops for illegally arresting their relatives.

The bench directed the respondent Rangers officials to file their respective comments on the matter and put off the hearing to March 15.

According to the petitioners, the family members of the missing persons were going through severe mental agony in the absence of their loved ones, adding that they were trying their best to trace out the missing persons since the day of their arrest but to no avail.

They complained that the authorities concerned did not give any information about the missing persons or any clue to their whereabouts.

The petitioners prayed to the court to direct the respondent authorities to track down the missing persons and produce them in court.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2018