ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Defence on Monday told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) journalist Ahmed Noorani’s two brothers, who went missing from Islamabad 20 days ago, were not in their custody and neither they know anything about them.
IHC judge Justice Inam Amin Minhas heard the petition filed for the recovery of the journalist’s brothers.
Islamabad Police Inspector General (IG) Ali Nasir Rizvi told the court that the phone SIM activity of the missing persons, Saifur Rehman Haider and Muhammad Ali, was detected in Bahawalpur.
In the petition, filed by the mother of Ahmad Noorani, she said that her two sons were allegedly abducted at 1:05am on Tuesday night by unidentified officials of intelligence agencies.
Justice Inam Minhas told the Islamabad police chief, “You were instructed to present a detailed report yourself.”
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In response, the Islamabad IG stated, “I had constituted a special investigation team, and they have made every effort.”
Giving details, he said, “SIM activity was detected in Bahawalpur and Uch Sharif on March 22 and March 23. Our team visited Bahawalpur and informed the Punjab IG as well. The Islamabad police team is still present in Bahawalpur. We have also written to the Sindh IG, and a team has gone there too. Since both brothers belong to Bahawalpur, we also have to determine whether this is a case of abduction.”
The IG further said that both phones belonged to the missing brothers, and remained switched off between March 19 and 21. However, SIM activity was on March 22 and March 23.
The judge asked the police chief, “The allegation is that the two brothers were abducted from Islamabad. Who is responsible? Don’t give me a paper report — tell me practically what you’ve done.”
The IG replied, “There are four areas, including Uch Sharif. We’ve obtained locators from Bahawalpur and Vehari police as well. We’re also investigating the phone numbers that were in contact.”
In response, Justice Inam Amin said, “My instruction is to produce the individuals.”
On the other hand, the petitioner’s lawyer, Imaan Mazari, said, “This is not something the ones in blue uniforms can handle — this needs to be asked from those in khaki uniform.”