ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notices to the interior secretary, police and district administration regarding a petition seeking the recovery of a retired brigadier who went missing on Oct 10 from Islamabad.

Ali Rizwan, the son of retired Brigadier Raja Rizwan Ali Haider, filed the habeas corpus petition through his counsel retired Lt-Col Inamur Rahim Khawaja.

IHC Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition. The court sought a report from the respondent authorities in a fortnight and adjourned the hearing.

The counsel adopted before the court that Mr Haider retired from service in 2014. While in army “he held the most sensitive and prestigious appointments including his tenure as military attaché of Pakistan in Austria and Germany for three years from 2009 to 2012”.

The petition said Mr Haider had been living in his home in Islamabad since his retirement.

According to the petition, on Oct 10, Mr Haider and his driver Waseem Akbar went to meet a friend in G-10, at 7 pm and that he reached street-17, G-10/2 near Sabri Naan Centre at around 8 pm. He stopped to buy some edibles and told his driver that he would be coming shortly. He went inside Street 16 and his driver kept waiting for him in his car. The driver kept waiting till late at night but Mr Haider did not and his mobile phone was switched off.

When he had not returned by 3am, the driver informed Mr Haider’s family members who immediately started a search for him in the surrounding areas but his friends and relatives did not find any clue. Subsequently, his son lodged an FIR with the Ramna police on Oct 11.

The petition said that around 9pm on Oct 11, the police brought sniffer digs and started a search from Street 16 in G-10/2. The sniffer dogs stopped at a house in the street.

The occupant of the house told the police that at about 8:15pm, he saw three motorbike riders hit a man and try to abduct him. The witness said the man put up resistance but a white fielder car with tinted windows came and its occupants forcibly pushed the man into the car.

The petition said the witness reported that he tried to make a video on his mobile phone but the abductors threatened him and told him they were from the police.

The police have registered a case under section 365 of the PPC and further investigation is underway with no clue of the person so far. According to the police, Mr Haider’s mobile phone is switched off but they have obtained call data record of the victim. They said there were no signs that he was taken somewhere forcibly.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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