ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday admitted for regular hearing a petition against the abduction of a couple from G-10 in January.

IHC Justice Athar Minallah issued notice to the defence ministry and directed that a responsible officer be deputed to apprise the court in this case. Further hearing of the matter has been adjourned till next week.

A general manager at the National Defence Complex, 38-year-old Nozair Hasan and his wife Omaima were kidnapped from their home in G-10 on the night between Jan 12 and 13. Their children, seven-year-old Hibban and four-year-old Safwan were left alone at home.

The children are now being looked after by their grandfather, Khubaib Hasan, the petition said. Khubaib Hasan has filed the petition through his counsel Inamul Rahim.

The petitioner has cited Ramna SHO, IG Islamabad, the defence ministry through its secretary, Inter-Services Intelligence through its director general and secretary interior as respondents.

The petitioner informed the court that at about 2am on the night between Jan 12 and 13 this year, a contingent of masked men in black uniforms and some men in plainclothes barged into their home and conducted a thorough search.

He said the raiding contingent of the security apparatus was not accompanied by a woman officer and that Omaima was manhandled and abducted by male security officers.

He said after hectic efforts, an FIR was lodged with Ramna police on Jan 17 and that the police have not been able to locate or track down the location of the couple and that no such information has been shared with the family so far.

The petitioner has requested the court to direct the respondents to produce his son and daughter-in-law safe and sound before the court.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2018