‘Agencies deny missing activist’s custody’

LAHORE: The ministry of defence on Monday informed the Lahore High Court that agencies working under its control have denied having custody of missing rights activist Raza Mahmood Khan.

This was said in a report submitted by a deputy attorney general on behalf of the ministry to the court. The report said the agencies working under the ministry’s administrative control i.e. Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence had intimated that the alleged missing person was not in their custody.

Representing petitioner, Advocate Asad Jamal argued before the court that the police had not carried out a proper investigation into the case and failed to protect the evidence of the abduction incident. He pointed out that the police even had not recorded statement of a citizen who reported the incident on police emergency helpline 15.

Justice Raja Shahid Mahmood Abbasi adjourned hearing until May 10 and summoned SP Investigations concerned along with a detailed report on the incident. Hamid Nasir Mahmood had filed the habeas corpus petition contending that his brother Raza Khan was allegedly abducted by unidentified persons on December 2, 2017, from his Model Colony residence.

He said Naseerabad police registered an abduction case against unidentified suspects but failed to recover his brother or make any arrest. He asked the court to order the police to recover his brother and produce before the court.

polio vaccine: In connection with ongoing anti-polio campaign, a ceremony took place at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) on Monday in which kids were given vaccine by Principal, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Prof Dr Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab.

According to a press release, LGH Medical Superintendent Dr Mahmood Salah Uddin, Nursing Superintendent Razia Bano, doctors and medical staff were present.

Prof Dr Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab stressed the need to create awareness among the masses to benefit from the campaign. He said in order to ensure polio free society every citizen should play his role. Principal, PGMI, said unfortunately there is some negative propaganda taking place regarding vaccination which had no reality.