Mahrang told to lodge complaint with police over her passport, cell phone’s confiscation

The Sindh High Court on Tuesday disposed of petitions filed by a Baloch rights activist, directing her to approach police to lodge her complaint with regard to the snatching of her mobile and passport allegedly by personnel of law enforcement agencies.

Mahrang Baloch had filed petitions against the snatching of her passport and mobile phone and registration of a case by the Quidabad police.

She said she was debarred from travelling abroad by the immigration authorities, and while she was returning from the airport, her mobile and passport were snatched by personnel of law enforcement agencies.

She also sought quashment of the criminal case registered against her by the Quaidabad police station, submitting that case was registered as part of political victimization and ulterior motives.

The court had earlier directed the DIG East to conduct a probe over the allegations of the petitioner. The DIG East submitted in a report that there was no involvement of the police in the incident; however, the police have the autonomy to register a case against unidentified persons.

A high court division bench, headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha, after perusal of the police report, observed that the petitioner if so advised may approach the SHO of the Airport police station, who shall record her statement and if a cognizable offence is made out the SHO shall lodge an FIR and proceed with the matter in accordance with the law.

In another petition with regard to the registration of a criminal case pertaining to charges of facilitating a terrorist organization, the court was informed that the interim charge sheet has been submitted before the trial court.

The court disposed of the petition, observing that the petitioner is at liberty to avail remedy from the trial court in accordance with the law.