May 20, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 03, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 19: The Australian High Commission has requested Pakistan to arrange a special investigation team comprising FIA and Special Branch operatives for the arrest of an Australian national of Pakistani origin who snatched three children from his wife and fled to Pakistan, it has been learnt.

This is the fifth time the high commission has furnished the request to the Pakistani government through its ministry of foreign affairs for the arrest of Ibrar Hussain to recover the three children — Abdullah Shah, Mashab Shah and Haniyyah Shah — from his custody.

Request for the initiation of a special probe has been made keeping in view the continued sufferings of the mother and her other family members.

They have been running from pillar to post to get the abducted children recovered since they were snatched from her and brought to Pakistan about seven months back, but so far no progress has been made.

At first, they filed a habeas corpus petition in Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court for the recovery of the kidnapped children.

The court issued arrest warrant of the accused and directed the ministry of interior to put his name along with the three children on the Exit Control List. His name was put on the ECL but despite the lapse of about two months, the children had not been recovered.

The family sought help of the Australian High Commission and the Pakistan interior ministry in this regard.

According to them, the police are not taking interest in the arrest of Ibrar and recovery of the three children.

Since the couple is Australian nationals, the high commission in Islamabad has also shown active involvement and asked the Pakistani government that assistance be extended in implementation of the order sheet of the superior court including warrants of arrest of the respondent.

The high commission has also forwarded the case proceeding and order sheet to the ministry of foreign affairs in Australia for necessary correspondence with the foreign office of Pakistan.

Ibrar Hussain belongs to Talagang tehsil and was settled in Australia. He married Syeda Almas Shah about 10 years ago. The couple moved Australia after the marriage. Three children were born out of their wedlock. After some time, differences started between them. Ibrar along with the children fled to Pakistan. After three months, Ms Almas also came to Pakistan to and moved the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court against her estranged husband seeking custody of her children.

Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha issued notice to Ibrar to appear along with the three children before the court but he failed to comply with the court orders and went into hiding.