A PHC bench comprising Justice Miftahuddin Khan and Justice Shahjehan Akhunzada put on notice the FC commandant, directing him to explain why he had sacked the eight FC men. Jan Afzal and eight others had filed a writ petition against their termination from service by the FC commandant.

The petitioner claimed that on December 23 the militants attacked the Mulazai Fort in Tank and kidnapped 15 FC soldiers including him. He said the militants slaughtered their seven colleagues, but he and seven others managed to escape from their captivity.

The petitioner said that when they appeared before the FC commandant, he terminated their services with observation that they had surrendered to the militants rather than fighting them. The petitioners’ lawyer, Ziarat Khan Mohmand contended that the petitioners had exchanged fire with the militants who were in large numbers.

He said they were kidnapped by the militants and later they managed to escape and appeared in the Frontier Constabulary headquarters to rejoin their duty. He said the FC commandant terminated their services instead of encouraging and appreciating their role in fighting the militants. After preliminary hearing, the bench admitted the writ petition for hearing and issued notice to the FC commandant to explain his position in the case during the next hearing.