HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad circuit on Tuesday directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Hyderabad to appear in person in a case of failure of recovery of a missing person, along with a comprehensive report reflecting efforts made by police.

The bench, comprising Justice Abdul Maalik Gaddi and Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, issued notices to law enforcement and other government officials for Sept 22 when the court would take up the matter.

The notices were issued to all these respondents on a petition filed by Etrat Batool Leghari, wife of Mohib Leghari advocate, who went missing a few days ago and his whereabouts remained unknown since then. She was represented by Sajjad Chandio advocate.

She stated that her husband was a social activist and secretary general of the Sindh Sujagi Forum which was working for human rights. He used to visit the camps set up by rights activists outside different press clubs of Sindh to demand release of missing persons. She said he was outspoken on rights issues and believed in rule of law.

Ms Batool said that on Sept 4, she was coming to Hyderabad, along with her husband and children, on a motorcycle when around eight persons dressed in police uniform in two vehicles and some in civvies intercepted the family near the village of Sahib Khan Chandio on the Wanki Wasi link road. She said they took her husband away.

She said she went to Hatri police station along with some relatives and recorded a statement vide crime no 139/20 under sections 365, 174, 148, 149 PPC. She also informed the office-bearers of the Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA), who condemned his abduction in a resolution.

Since then she and her relatives were unaware about his whereabouts.

She asked the court to direct the respondents to recover her husband and produce him before a court.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2020