IHC judge says law should be enacted to hang those involved in kidnapping people

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has remarked that it is his opinion that legislation should be enacted and those involved in disappearing and kidnapping (people).

The IHC judge these remarks during the hearing of a petition seeking the recovery of poet and journalist Ahmad Faraz, who was kidnapped from outside his home in Islamabad in the jurisdiction of Lohibher Police station two days ago.

Justice Kayani remarked that it is his opinion that legislation should be enacted and those involved in disappearances should be executed, as that was the main point.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Jameel Zafar appeared before the court, along with the lawyer for Ahmad Faraz’s wife, Imaan Mazari, and Hadi Ali Chatha.

During the hearing, the court inquired about the progress made in recovering the missing poet. The government lawyer told the court that a special investigation team has been formed and efforts were under way.

The SSP operations said that he has met with the missing person’s wife and, and she told him that Farhad was taken from outside their home.

He said that they have obtained footage of 15 vehicles, but the numbers were not readable due to it being night.

“Efforts to trace the vehicle numbers are still ongoing at the FIA, and letters have been written to all inspector-generals of police across the country, as well as to all intelligence agencies.
He said that geofencing has been done, and it will take some time; work on CDR and geofencing is still pending.

The court asked if there has ever been a positive response from intelligence agencies.

“Yesterday, I said that once the police investigation is over, I will call the defence secretary,” the judge said adding that “Assistant Attorney General, sir! Now is the time to call the defense secretary. Either you say that RAW agents came and took the person, then I will believe it.

So far this year, no investigation in any of the kidnapping cases has been completed. I am telling you now, these fingerprints will not match. It is a matter of shame; the entire nation knows who is doing what.”

The judge further remarked that “the whole of Pakistan, including myself, knows, but we have closed our eyes. What a marvelous system it is; the missing person cannot say anything after returning home. When a missing person returns, they and their family are told to remain silent.

My opinion is that legislation should be enacted and those involved in disappearances should be executed; that is the real issue. Those who are missing are the ones who are speaking out, and the majority of the missing persons are journalists and social activists.”

The judge said: “If the defence secretary cannot do anything, then I will call the ministers and then the prime minister. If anyone goes missing within the jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court, the IG will face the consequences.”

The SSP operations told the court that when they write to the agencies, they never receive a positive response.

Upon this, the court said that a common man’s four words seem to be hurting you, and you just take the person away. All day long, people’s honour is being thrown around on social media. What should we do, take everyone away? If you can’t do the job, then provide an alternative option.”

Justice Kayani said that “if you do your job, you won’t need press conferences. If all these fail in the recovery of the person, then I will issue a show-cause notice for contempt of court against them. I have full faith in the police; the face of the state is the police, no one else.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing of the case until Monday.

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Farhad Ali Shah from Azad Kashmir was allegedly abducted, and a case was registered at the Lohibher police station in Islamabad.

In the case, Farhad Ali’s wife stated that unknown individuals abducted her husband from Sohan Garden without a warrant after entering their home.

She said that the unknown individuals broke the CCTV cameras installed in their home and also took the DVR with them.

On the other hand, the Islamabad High Court had ordered the recovery Ahmad Faraz at all costs.