PESHAWAR, July 25: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday directed the Fata additional chief secretary and secretary security to explain why in the presence of armed forces and other law-enforcement agencies the writ of government could not be established in tribal areas.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Mrs Justice Irshad Qaiser expressed displeasure over the state of affairs in Federally Administered Tribal Areas after it was informed that for recovery of three kidnapped officials of Peshawar Electric Supply Company the government had been negotiating with kidnappers for payment of ransom.

The bench questioned how could the kidnappers became so powerful that they had been blocking the way of security forces. It observed that this state of affair showed that the writ of government had eroded in tribal areas. The bench expressed anguish that the employees were abducted seven months ago while performing duty and they could not be recovered despite presence of security forces in Bara, Khyber Agency.

The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by one Khan Baz, a relative of one of the kidnapped persons. The employees and some labourers were abducted by armed men on Jan 31 when they were repairing a power pylon at Khushal Khwar area near Badhber. The kidnapped persons included three linemen of Pesco and some labourers.

The bench fixed Aug 16 for next hearing. Advocate Iqbal Durrani appeared for the Khyber Agency administration and contended that negotiations were in progress with the kidnappers through some other persons. He said that the kidnappers had been demanding release of some of the imprisoned militants.

Mr Durrani stated that they had learned that the kidnapped persons were taken to Tirah valley where presently the administration could not exercise its functions.

Meanwhile, in missing persons’ cases the bench observed that though the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary had directed police not to support intelligence agencies in their illegal operations, complaints against police officials in this regard were on the rise.

The chief justice observed that all institutions had to function in the limits prescribed by the constitution. He observed that police officials had been violating constitution as they picked up persons and were reluctant to divulge facts before the court.

The bench adjourned hearing into these cases till Aug 16 and put on notice the ministries of defence and interior, provincial home secretary and police department, directing them to inform the court concerning whereabouts of the missing persons on next date.