MULTAN, Oct 1: Justice Fakhrunisa Khokhar of the Lahore high court on Tuesday censured the local police for what she said playing the role of a silent spectator until the ‘Madad Committee’ deprived people of their hard-earned money.

Justice Khokhar of the principal seat is currently working at the Multan bench of the high court. She criticised the police while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Nusrat Islam, the brother of Shaukat Islam who was a co-partner of the ‘Madad Committee’ along with its mastermind Tahir Sharif.

Shaukat was reportedly taken into custody by the police the day when Tahir was whisked away from the Madad Committee offices in Liaquatabad Colony. But when Shaukat’s family inquired about his whereabouts the police expressed complete ignorance.

Upon this, his brother Nusrat filed the habeas petition with the Multan bench. When a court bailiff raided the Kutabpur police station, he found Shaukat’s Pajero parked on its premises. However, Shauakt was missing.

On his report, the court summoned the Multan SP investigation and SHOs of the Alapa, Kutabpur and Cantonment police stations on Monday last for Oct 1. All the summoned police officials were present in court on Tuesday. They again expressed ignorance about Shaukat’s whereabouts.

On the court orders to produce Shaukat on Oct 4, the police sought a week for the purpose but the court did not oblige.