Comments sought on ‘enforced disappearance’ of two MQM men

The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial and federal law officers to file comments on petitions against enforced disappearance of two Muttahida Quami Movement activists, who were alleged to have been trained by Indian spy agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing).

Petitioners Najma Tahir and Nasreen Kanwal submitted that their spouses Tahir and Mohmmad Junaid were acquitted by an anti-terrorism court in a case pertaining to possession of illegal weapons. As soon they were released from the central prison on October 24, they were allegedly picked up by law enforcers, they submitted.

They sought protection and safe recovery of their spouses and requested the court to direct police and the law enforcement agencies to recover and produce the detainees before the court.

Jail authorities in their comments said they had not handed over the custody of the missing persons to any agency. Police also denied arrest or detention of the petitioners’s spouses.

The court after taking the comments on record directed federal and provincial law officers to file comments on behalf of the federal and provincial governments.

Former SSP Malir Rao Anwar had shown arrest of Tahir along with Junaid Mama on April 30 last year, claiming that the suspects were MQM activists who had been sent to India for training. The police officer had claimed that the suspects had confessed to having links with the MQM and training in India.

The court also issued notices to the IG Sindh, the DG Rangers and others on petitions against detention of citizens allegedly by personnel of law enforcement agencies. Petitioners have challenged alleged detentions of Mushtaq alias Adil, Nizamuddin, Haider Ali, Umar Daraz and others. According to the petitioners, the detainees were allegedly picked up by law enforcers during raids conducted at different areas.