ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has given the Islamabad police chief time till Monday, October 3, to produce before the court a 29-year-old ‘missing person’ who was reportedly whisked away by men in uniform from his residence on August 20.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the short order while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Akram, the father of ‘missing man’ Hafiz Muhammad Muneeeb. He has been missing since a midnight raid at his residence over a month earlier.

In the short order, the IHC also put the chief commissioner, the sector commanders of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on notice, directing them to assist the Islamabad IGP in Muneeb’s recovery.

During Friday’s hearing, the jurist summoned Islamabad Inspector General Akbar Nisar Khan at 2pm, while also issuing notices to the secretaries of the Interior and Defence ministries.

Earlier, the petitioner’s lawyer told the court that Muneeb was picked up on August 20 from the precincts of the Noon police station.

Police complaint

According to the first information report (FIR), available with Aaj Digital and registered at the Noon police station, around six to seven people visited Muneeb’s residence at around 1am. “They didn’t say who they were or where they were form,” the FIR quoted the father as saying.

“They took my son’s cell phone, laptop and the digital video recorder (DVR) of surveillance cameras installed at the residence.”

Chief justice’s opprobrium

During the hearing, Justice Minallah observed that such cases had become frequent, which was unacceptable.

“Counter-terrorism departments of other areas are coming here,” he said, adding that the court was unaware what the police and other agencies were doing.

“It is your and the chief commissioner’s responsibility to recover this person,” the court told the IGP while ordering the appearance of all the relevant officers in case of failure of recovery of the missing person by the 10:30am, Monday deadline.

“All officers will continue to appear daily until this person is recovered,” Justice Minallah said. “Do not force this court to take against you.”

Earlier this month, the Islamabad police recovered 27-year-old farmer Haseeb Hamza, who had reportedly gone “missing” in August, and produced him before the IHC after a similar deadline was set by Justice Minallah.

Baloch students’ harassment

In a separate hearing, Justice Minallah took up a petition against the harassment of Baloch students.

The court was informed that Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had recused himself from the position of convenor on the Baloch Students Commission.

The Islam­abad High Court (IHC) has formed a commission headed by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani to address the grievances of Baloch students.

In April, Justice Minallah ordered the formation of the commission while hearing a petition filed by rights activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir against harassment of Baloch students, who were protesting in Islamabad last month over the disappearance of their missing colleague, Hafiz Baloch.

Mazari-Hazir recommended the name of Afrasiab Khattak for the position of the convenor.

Justice Minallah remarked that the commission includes members of legislature so someone with official status should be the convener.

The court adjourned the hearing till October 3 while seeking names for the position of covenor.