ISLAMABAD, July 29: The number of petitions for recovery of missing activists of banned Hizbut Tahrir (HT) is gradually increasing as fourth petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the abduction of Rahim Yar Khan based Dental Surgeon Dr Abdul Qayyum on Friday.

Single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman resumed hearing of three identical petitions seeking recovery of missing Hizb activists Imran Yousafzai, Hayyan Dawar Khan and Osama Hanif. The learned judge also heard the fourth petition of missing Dr Abdul Qayyum in his chamber.

Deputy Attorney General told the court that in three petitions the notices could not been served on Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Superintendent Police of Islamabad and it was the responsibility of the petitioner to ensure timely service of the notices to the respondents.

The court once again issued notices to directors' general ISI and MI as well as to district police officer Rahim Yar Khan and adjourned the hearing till August 4.

The fourth petition filed by Muhammad Islam Abid, alleged that the officials of ISI, MI and local police abducted his brother-in-law Dr Abdul Qayyum on July 27 at about 11:45pm just few hours before the 'wallima ceremony' of his son.

He was going to a bakery with his 12-year-old daughter. The officials forcibly threw him in their car leaving his daughter alone at midnight in the darkness, the petitioner maintained.

The petitioner said that his family approached DPO Rahim Yar Khan and tried their best to trace him but all their efforts went in vain.

Dr Qayyum was not produced before any judicial authority therefore his detention is illegal and unjustified, the petitioner pointed out.