Federal, KP govts issued notices in missing persons case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday issued notices to the provincial and federal governments to submit replies in 10 petitions filed for the recovery of missing persons.

While hearing the petitions by a single-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice SM Attique Shah remarked that authorities merely submit reports, saying that the institution concerned did not have the missing persons. He said that such reports should contain more details and that the police should know why these individuals have disappeared.

Additional advocate general, Deputy Attorney General Ubaidullah Anwar, and the police focal person Superintendent of Police Kamal Hussain appeared in the court.

Justice SM Attique Shah questioned the police focal person about the increasing number of missing persons. In response, the focal person informed the court that many persons went missing voluntarily due to personal enmities, debts or to evade arrest. Upon hearing this, the acting chief justice remarked that such persons seemed to be more skilled than the police. He said that the police should have information regarding why a person has gone missing.

He criticized the institutions concerned for merely submitting reports stating that they did not have the missing persons and insisted that such reports should have included further details.

The AAG agreed and said that it was a good suggestion and that station house officers (SHOs) should submit a detailed report on each missing person, including their character, business and other matters.

He also pointed out that some persons declared themselves missing due to bankruptcy or other deceptive reasons. The bench issued notices to the provincial and federal governments in the case of 10 missing persons, seeking their response in the next hearing.