PHC orders police to take action on two missing persons cases

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday issued direction to a police officer to take action on the first information report (FIR) filed against a military officer and members of the peace committee in a case of two missing persons in the Swat district three years back.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Nisar Hussain Khan and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth disposed of the petition filed for the safe recovery of two missing persons. It directed the station house officer (SHO) of the Kanju Police Station in Swat district to proceed on the first information report.

The bench asked the petitioner to submit another application in the court within two weeks if the SHO concerned failed or refused to take legal action on the (FIR).The court issued direction to the SHO in a habeas corpus petition. It was filed by Jehan Saba, a resident of Kanju in Swat, and wife of the missing Muhammad Khalil and mother of Nasir Khan.

The woman informed the bench that she had lodged the FIR in the case of her missing husband and minor son some three years ago on the court’s direction. The petitioner said she had nominated one Major Idrees and peace committee members, including Malik Subhan, Malik Rehmat and Rahmat Ali, Muhammad Wakeel, sons of Sultan-e-Room, in the FIR. She complained the police did not take any action against the suspects nominated in the FIR.

The woman alleged that Major Idrees had picked up her husband and son on the complaint of the peace committee members on June 12, 2009. She said later both went missing. The woman said she received the information a year after the detention of the two that they had died. But later, she claimed, she was informed that they were alive.

The woman, who has been fighting a legal battle since June 2009, submitted to the court that she had lost her lands and jewelry in her struggle for the safe recovery of her husband and son, whom she termed innocent, but to no avail.

During the hearing, the bench asked Additional Advocate General, Mian Arshad Jan, to ensure police action on the FIR lodged some three years back in the missing persons’ case. However, the court told the woman that her other son, Salim, had been declared ‘black’ and was languishing at the internment centre in Fizagat in Swat. The court said that she could meet him at the internment centre.