PHC to proceed on Charsadda missing brothers case after federal govt response

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday heard petitions regarding two missing brothers from Charsadda Sardheri. The case was presided over by Acting Chief Justice Atiq Shah, who was keen to know the focal person in the case.

One of the missing brothers’ siblings informed the court that his brother Sikandar had been missing since 2023, and they are a total of six brothers. Justice Atiq Shah inquired why were the brothers taken in the first place out of thousands of people from their village.

The petitioner explained that two of the brothers had been taken, one of whom was just 16 years old, raising the query that he was too young to be charged and tried. The focal person added that all of them were prayer leaders (Imams) and had no involvement in politics or any political party.

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In response, Justice Shah remarked, “Politics is your right under the law, and even Maulana Fazlur Rehman is active in politics.”

The father of the missing brothers pleaded with the court, stating that if his sons had committed any wrong doing they should be brought before court instead of being whisked away: “I can no longer bear their disappearance like this.”

The court demanded a response from the government, instructing officials to submit a reply. Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Inaam informed the court that one of the missing individuals had eight cases registered against him, and Justice Atiq Shah noted that the federal government was yet to respond to the case. “Once we receive their reply, we will proceed with the case,” he stated.

The hearing was adjourned until further notice.