LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday disposed of a habeas corpus petition for the recovery of alleged abducted PTI social media activist Azhar Mashwani as he appeared before it.

Mashwani was accompanied by his counsel, Azhar Siddique, when appeared before the court of Justice Aalia Neelum.

The counsel told the court that Mashwani was released by his ‘abductors’ in Islamabad.

Asked about his alleged abductors, the PTI activist told the court he could not recognise his abductors as they used to cover their faces. He alleged that the abductors told him that they were officials of the FIA and he had been picked up on the directions of the agency’s director general and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Justice Neelum expressed her displeasure when petitioner’s counsel said Mashwani had not appeared before the police after his release. The judge observed that the police were a first response force and every citizen was supposed to report his ordeal to it.

Advocate Siddique said Mashwani was still suffering from the trauma of his alleged kidnapping.

The judge disposed of the petition for being infructuous.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2023