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KARACHI, Dec 28: The Sindh High Court asked the federal interior secretary on Wednesday to file, within 10 days, a rejoinder to a petition alleging that a man was being detained by a federal law enforcement agency unlawfully.
Petitioner Javeria Arif submitted through Advocate Nihal Hashmi that her husband, Arif Qasmani, was picked up by law enforcement personnel from his KDA Scheme residence on Nov 29 for his suspected links with Al Qaeda and Taliban. No case was registered against him, nor was he produced before a magistrate for remand. The police were informed but was of no help to her.
An additional advocate-general informed a division bench, comprising Justices Mushir Alam and Athar Saeed, that the provincial government had nothing to do with the matter but he required more time to make a formal statement on behalf of the police.
Adjourning further hearing to Jan 19, the bench expressed its concern that, judging by the number of petitions being filed in this behalf, the incidence of ‘disappearance’ of people was on the increase. It observed that the government agencies were legally obliged to protect the life and liberty of citizens and they should act in accordance with the law.
IBA CLARIFICATION: With reference to the story headlined ‘IG given 10 days to locate IBA student’ in Dawn Metropolitan’s Wednesday issue, it is clarified that the alleged detainee is a former student of the IBA.
“Affan Leghari was a student at the IBA three years ago for some months when he left the IBA suddenly after attending one semester in 2002”, the institute’s communications manager said in a letter addressed to this newspaper.
BAIL GRANTED: The SHC on Wednesday granted protective bail to as many as 15 persons in an attempt to murder, police encounter, abduction and terrorism case, adds PPI.
Mohammad Murad and 14 others were booked by the Shikarpur district police in two cases and were charged with attempt to murder, police encounter, abduction, threatening and terrorism on Nov 7.
