IHC Criticizes Government Over Missing Persons, Demands Immediate Action on Ahmed Janjua's Abduction
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has voiced serious concerns over the government's handling of missing persons cases, questioning the state's knowledge and actions.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of the IHC presided over the hearing concerning the recovery of PTI's International Media Coordinator, Ahmed Janjua. Advocate Iman Mazari represented Janjua's wife, Farahna Barlas, while the Advocate General of Islamabad also appeared before the court.
According to the petitioner's lawyer, uniformed and masked individuals forcefully abducted Ahmed Janjua at 4 AM on July 20. The court inquired whether these individuals were police officers, to which the lawyer confirmed that some were in uniform and others were masked.
Justice Tahir remarked on the alarming trend of enforced disappearances, now extending to Islamabad, and demanded to know the government's actions in such cases. He questioned how much time would be needed to recover Ahmed Janjua.
The court called for the Attorney General to appear at noon and instructed the Additional Attorney General to bring complete details. Justice Tahir emphasized the urgency, suggesting that the individual could be produced within two hours and questioned the performance of the IG Police, hinting at a possible show-cause notice.
During the resumed hearing, the Attorney General was absent, but the Prosecutor General, Additional Attorney General, and Advocate General were present. The Prosecutor General mentioned serious allegations against Ahmed Janjua and presented his remand report to the court, indicating his arrest under terrorism charges with a seven-day physical remand granted by the Anti-Terrorism Court.
Justice Tahir acknowledged the police's official disclosure of Janjua's arrest and pointed out the appropriate legal forums now available to challenge the arrest. Advocate Mazari argued that Janjua's arrest was fabricated, demanding the release of CCTV footage.
The court noted that the initial petition was for recovery, but the matter had evolved. Justice Tahir instructed the government lawyer to allow Janjua's family and lawyer to meet him, thus resolving the recovery petition.
