HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, comprising Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto and Justice Rashida Asad, on Thursday directed the Jamshoro SSP to file in the court the joint investigation team (JIT) report regarding a person who had been missing for the last seven months. Such report has to be submitted on Aug 26, the next date of hearing.

The bench ordered that reports should be sought from federal secretaries of defence and interior. The copies of this order be sent to the two secretaries as well as the Jamshoro SSP and deputy attorney general (DAG), the bench directed.

Petitioner Shamsul Haq Chang along with his mother and Advocate Ghulamullah Chang were present in court.

The woman has stated that her son, Abdul Aziz Chang, was taken away by law enforcement agencies about seven months back. She said that such FIR was registered and a JIT was notified by the home department. The Jamshoro SSP had undertaken that Aziz Chang would be released by the agencies concerned within two weeks but there had been no clue to him till date, she submitted.

SI Moazzam Ali, on behalf of the SSP, submitted that the JIT’s session would be held on Thursday.

The bench observed that it was surprising to note that the JIT session was being held without a notice to the complainant.

Petitioner Shamsul Haq Chang in his petition has stated that his brother [Aziz Chang] had left home for Isha prayers on Jan 31 but never returned. He stated that on Feb 4, he [the petitioner] lodged an FIR under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) at the Jamshoro police station against unknown persons but no investigation had been done since then. He stated that his brother was neither affiliated with any proscribed organisation nor was he involved in any criminal activity.

He stated that he and his family members approached the respondent SHO, SSP and DIG but in vain. He prayed to court to direct the respondents to recover and produce Aziz Chang in court.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2020