PHC seeks report on Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts, legal status

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has sought a detailed report from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector general of police, the capital city police officer (CCPO), the chief secretary and the home secretary on the whereabouts and legal status of deposed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is allegedly being held in custody.

In its written order, the court directed the respondents to clarify whether Afridi was under arrest or had been nominated in any criminal case, and to explain his current whereabouts.

The court observed that, in view of the matter, notices were being issued to the relevant authorities, who should submit a detailed report within 10 days.

According to the petitioner, Afridi is the elected chief minister of the province and has been detained unlawfully.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that neither the imposition of emergency nor governor’s rule justified keeping the chief minister in illegal custody.

The counsel further submitted that Afridi’s family had no information about his whereabouts.

The court adjourned further proceedings until November 3.

The petition is part of a series of pleas filed before the PHC following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11.

Afridi’s brother, Muhammad Aamir, had approached the court seeking his recovery, alleging that unidentified armed and masked individuals took him away from the Chief Minister’s House.

The petition sought his production before the court if he was in custody, so the legality of his detention could be examined under Article 199 of the Constitution.

The court is also hearing petitions concerning the alleged detention or disappearance of other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and party provincial president Junaid Akbar. The authorities have been asked to respond to the allegations.

PHC adjourns hearing on pleas seeking recovery of KP minister, MNA

Meanwhile, the PHC on Wednesday adjourned until November 3 the hearing of petitions seeking the recovery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Minister Fazal Shakoor and MNA Fazal Muhammad Khan.

A PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Fahim Wali heard the petitions.

During the hearing, the additional advocate general told the court that the petitioners were not cooperating with the police despite court orders.

However, the petitioners’ counsel said they had provided a USB drive to the Chamkani Police Station and that the provincial minister’s brother had also recorded a statement.

Justice Ijaz Anwar expressed concern over the apparent lack of information about the whereabouts of the elected representatives, observing that if a provincial minister and a member of the National Assembly could go missing without any trace, the situation for ordinary citizens must be even more alarming.

The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until November 3.