IHC seeks report from FIA, police in missing person case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought a progress report from the FIA and the Islamabad Police till next hearing on a petition seeking the fixation of responsibility in the missing citizen Faizan Khan’s case and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.

Justice Babar Sattar expressed dissatisfaction over progress in the case. He remarked: “A man disappears and then is recovered but his name is put on the ECL. No record in this regard is available. What can the court do. The state is accountable in this case. A one page report was produced. It was said therein ‘we don’t know. Nothing is known to us about disappearance of the man.’ If police were doing their job, why did the petitioner feel the need to come to court?”

Imaan Mazari, counsel for the petitioner Hadi Ali Chatha, the assistant attorney general and the state counsel appeared in the court. Imaan said there were two petitions: one pertained to recovery and the second to placement of name on the ECL. The court told the AAG: “You had taken time in the first petition.” The AAG told the court that reports from institutions have come as per your order. The court inquired if these reports determined the cause for what happened.

Imaan said that as per a CTD Punjab report, Faizan was not wanted to them in any case. According to an IB report, the man was not recognized through CCTV footage. As per the Ministry of Defence, they have no data about the kidnapped person. Faizan recorded his statement before police for three hours. Afterwards his name was put on the ECL in December 2024, she said. The interior secretary should be held accountable as he placed the name on the ECL.

The AAG said it has been mentioned in the petition that the man has returned home. The relief sought from the court has already been given and the matter is being investigated. Justice Babar Sattar said: “You have given a 300-page report to the magistrate concerned. Will the magistrate now summon the officer and police, and take action?”

The state counsel said no report from the FIA has come so far. The court inquired as to why the report has not been filed so far. The FIA counsel said a new agency of the FIA has been established that looks after this sort of information. He sought time for filing a report.

Justice Babar Sattar said: “You make a sketch first and then send it to Nadra for identification. How many people Nadra has identified so far?” The state counsel said he has no knowledge about it. Data has to be obtained. The court asked when agencies are accused of committing an illegal act, what is the procedure was to investigate them.