ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday was informed that a lawyer, Hammad Saeed Dar, who was abducted from his house two days ago, had been recovered.

A single bench of Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed the Inspector General of Islamabad police to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure that the public functionaries found responsible for lack of prompt and effective response are held accountable, and dealt with in accordance with the law.

The IHC bench also directed secretary Ministry of Interior to place copies of this order before the prime minister and members of his cabinet.

It added that this Court is confident that they will take appropriate measures so that the fundamental rights are protected and no citizen becomes a victim of lack of prompt and effective response on part of agents of the State i.e. the public functionaries.

The case was adjourned until January 15th.

The Inspector General of Islamabad Police and the secretary Ministry of Interior were directed to file reports.

During the hearing, son of Hammad Saeed Dar informed that the abductors after keeping his father in illegal detention for forty-eight hours had released him.

DIG Waqarud Din Syed said that investigation was in progress, and assured that no stone would be left unturned to identify and proceed against the perpetrators of the alleged offence.

He further stated that a departmental inquiry had been initiated against the In-charge Police Station.

Justice Minallah noted in his order, "This Court has been consistently pointing out the deteriorating law and order situation and alleged abduction of citizens. The 1400 square mile area of Islamabad Capital territory is directly supervised and administratively controlled by the Federal Government."

He also said that this Court has and continues to repose its confidence in the will and commitment of the prime minister and members of the federal cabinet that they will take appropriate measures in order to protect the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the citizens.

The IHC chief justice observed, "The violation of duties and obligations by public functionaries cannot be condoned because doing so would lead to the erosion of the very basis of the State's legal authority and thus undermine the rule of law. The duty to protect citizens from harm and jealously guard their fundamental rights is exclusively that of the State and its functionaries."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021