KARACHI: A sessions court on Monday issued a show-cause notice to the director general of the Airport Security Force (ASF) for not allowing a raid commissioner to recover a detainee allegedly kept in wrongful confinement by immigration officials at Karachi airport.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (Malir) Faraz Ahmed Chandio also directed the officials of the Federal Investigation Agency, posted at the immigration office of Jinnah International Airport, to produce the detainee before it within two days.

A habeas corpus petition was filed in court seeking recovery of Abdullah Ahmed allegedly detained at the immigration office since Oct 5 as he had arrived there to travel for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

On Oct 7, the court had appointed a bailiff (court official) as the raid commissioner with direction to visit the airport with the assistance of area police for recovery of the detainee allegedly held in wrongful confinement by the deputy director and assistant director in an immigration room at the airport.

Court issues show cause notice to ASF chief

At the outset of the hearing on Monday, bailiff Saqib Rasheed stated in his report that he along with the petitioner and an officer of the Airport police had visited the airport on Saturday, but ASF personnel had barred them from entering the premises of the airport despite the fact that he had showed them court order.

The court in its order said, “As the personnel of Airport Security Force had disobeyed the court directions while not allowing the raid commissioner duly appointed by court for recovery and release of the detainee from the wrongful confinement of respondent No.2 to 4 at immigration room Jinnah International Airport, Karachi which tantamount to commission of offence under Section 166 PPC as well as under the provisions of Contempt of Court Act as such let the copy of order sheet be forwarded to the director general/in-charge Airport Security Force through SHO PS Airport as a show cause notice.”

Adjourning the hearing till Oct 12, the court directed the FIA officials concerned to recover and produce the detainee within two days.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2023