‘Detained Pasban leader not in central prison’

SHC issues notices to DG Rangers and SIU chief for comments over detainee’s disappearance
Karachi
Placed under a 90-day preventive detention, Pasban General Secretary Usman Moazzam was, according to jail authorities, not being held at the central prison, the detainee’s wife informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday.
Moazzam’s wife, Subohi Usman, had gone to the central jail to visit him, after the court had directed the concerned authorities to arrange a meeting between the detainee and his family.
The SHC issued notices to Director General Rangers, Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) chief and other respondents, and directed them to file comments with regard to his whereabouts.
The direction came on an application filed by the detainee’s spouse, Subohi Usman, who had submitted that Moazzam was handed over to the Rangers official for three months; however, she maintained that he had been in their custody for over a month before the remand was granted.
The petitioner maintained that law enforcement agencies personnel had raided her house situated in Samanabad area on July 19 and took her husband and sons, Mohammad Siddiqui and Saad Siddiqui, without disclosing the reasons for their arrest.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mohammad Farooq, submitted that Moazam’s arrest was made official after the Rangers acquired his remand under the anti-terrorism laws, however, whereabouts of the two sons were yet to be ascertained.
He submitted the Rangers law officer had categorically mentioned in his statement that the detainee was being held at the central prison under the anti-terrorism laws.
He requested the court to direct the Rangers, jail authorities and others to ascertain the detainee’s whereabouts.
The SHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, keeping in view the statement of the jail authorities, issued notices to the SIU chief as well as DG Rangers to file comments with regard to the matter; the hearing was adjourned till October 15.