News
Friday, August 16, 2013
SC rejects investigation report on missing person* Court gives police officer 15 days to make progress in case of Zaheer Muzaffar
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Rejecting Rawalpindi police’s investigation report about the recovery of a missing person, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the city’s SP (Investigation) to interrogate accused officials of intelligence agencies in the matter related to the forced disappearance of Zaheer Muzaffar.
A two-member bench of the court, headed by Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, also gave “last opportunity” to SP Haroon Joya and warned him that the case would be handed over to another investigation officer if no progress was made within 15 days.
Zaheer Muzafar has been missing from Rawalpindi since February 2011.
During the hearing, Punjab Additional Advocate General Faisal Malik told the bench that father of the missing person had accused intelligence agencies of abducting his son but no evidence had been found in this regard.
He informed the court that record pertaining to phone calls of Zaheer had been collected, adding that Zaheer had made his last reported contact with his relatives.
Malik further told the court that it has been proved that the last phone call Zaheer received from an unknown number was from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He told the court that Zaheer was working with the head of Askari Bank at his home.
However, Malik added, the day Zaheer was allegedly abducted, the owner of the house was in Karachi.
The additional advocate general further told the court that two guards, who were serving with the owner of the house, were also interrogated.
SP Haroon told the court that owner of the house had also confirmed that he was in Karachi at the time of incident.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed inquired the SP as to whether Zaheer was involved in any unlawful activity. The SP told the court that police have no proofs of Zaheer having links with any jihadi group.
Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry remarked that investigation was not being carried out in a proper manner.
SP Haroon told the court that the joint investigation team was of the view that Zaheer had crossed the border.
At this, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that how it was possible that Zaheer was abducted from Rawalpindi and then he immediately crossed the border.
The father of Zaheer told the court that personnel of secret agencies had visited his house and got Form B and a copy of National Identity Card (NIC) of Zaheer.
Amna Masood Janjua told the court that the area where Zaheer was working with the head of Askari Bank was under surveillance. Therefore, she said, there was possibility that Zaheer had been abducted by intelligence agencies.
Later, the court directed police to probe the case on sound footings after interrogating secret agencies. The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.
Meanwhile, in another case of a disappeared person, the court was informed that the missing person, Usama Waheed, had been detained in an internment centre in Lakki Marwat. The bench directed the authorities concerned to arrange a meeting of the detained person with his family and also submit details of charges levelled on him. The court adjourned the hearing of the case until August 22.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk