ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday sought report from the police investigation officer in the matter of a missing person, Imran Khan.
A single bench of Chief Justice Athar Minallah was hearing the petition of missing person's mother for safe release of her son who is a computer engineer and was working in the UAE.
During the hearing, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense appeared before the court, while deputy attorney general Tayyab Shah represented the Federation.
The representative of the Defense Ministry informed that the ministry was taking measures to find out the whereabouts of the missing person.
The chief justice said it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens.
He added that the court would not interfere in the investigations but it would ensure the protection of basic human rights.
Expressing annoyance over the investigation officer, the IHC bench said that the IO had failed to satisfy the court.
It further said that Imran had been missing for the last five years but the IO had not investigated the matter properly.
In the petition, Imran Khan's mother stated that her son was picked up from home situated at Sector G-10 of Islamabad and was taken to some unknown location in a double-cabin vehicle five years ago.
According to the petition, the family got registered an FIR with the local police after his disappearance.
However, the police failed to recover him, despite a lapse of five years.
Then, the petitioner took up the matter with the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, and during the hearing by the commission it was concluded that the case of Imran fell under enforced disappearances and law enforcement agencies were asked to find his whereabouts.
As per petition, Imran's disappearance adversely affected the life of his family members.
Imran was married and had a six-year-old son.
His wife filed a suit for dissolution of marriage on the ground of prolonged absence of her husband. The family judge of Islamabad dissolved the marriage and handed over Imran's son to his mother.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020