BAHAWALPUR, Aug 23: The whereabouts of Hafiz Muhammad Tahir, of Khangarh Sharif mauza in Bahawalpur, who had been missing since Dec 2004, is believed to be detained in Khyber Agency. His whereabouts were revealed by Hafiz Abdul Basit, of Faisalabad, who was released from the detention of secret agencies on the orders of the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Dawn learnt Hafiz Tahir, his father Quresh Ahmed, brother Hafiz Ehsan and five sisters Shazia, Asia, Khalida, Abida and Shakila were picked up by the intelligence agencies in Dec 2004, after an attempt on the life of President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi.

His four sisters except Shakila were released after some time. His father was released recently while Tahir, Ehsan and Shakila were still “missing”. The family owns 12 acres in Adda Shaheedan mauza in Ahmedpur East.

Basit said Tahir was detained in the torture cell along with other three people, including Siddiq Akbar, of Multan. Basit said the agencies tortured them in the airtight cell and interrogated them about their alleged links with militants.