The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Islamabad during a hearing regarding a petition filed by the mother of journalist Ahmad Noorani, seeking the recovery of his two missing brothers.
Noorani, who works for the US-based news outlet FactFocus, recently published an investigative report involving a high-ranking serving military official and his family members. Following this, Noorani’s two brothers, Muhammad Saifur Rehman Haider and Muhammad Ali, were reportedly abducted from their Islamabad residence during the early hours of Wednesday.
In her petition to the IHC, Noorani’s mother, Amina Bashir, claimed her sons were forcibly disappeared at 1:05 a.m. by unidentified individuals, allegedly from the country’s intelligence agencies. She argued that the abductions were a direct response to Noorani’s journalism, designed to silence him. The petition named the government, the Ministry of Defence, the Islamabad IGP, and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Noon Police Station as respondents.
On Saturday, the IHC instructed the SHO to provide a detailed report on the disappearance. Advocate Imaan Hazir Mazari, representing the petitioners, criticized the authorities for failing to register an FIR despite the passing of three days since the incident.
At today’s hearing, Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas expressed dissatisfaction with the SHO’s report and summoned the Islamabad IGP to appear before the court on March 26.
During the proceedings, Advocate Mazari appeared with Noorani’s mother and sister. The emotional mother tearfully asked, “Will the high court be responsible if something happens to my children?”
The SHO presented his report, stating that the police had utilized all available resources, including geofencing, reviewing call detail records, and checking nearby surveillance cameras. Justice Minhas responded sharply, telling the officer that he should have presented all findings but failed to do so.
The Islamabad police lawyer claimed no formal request had been made to register a case. However, Justice Minhas dismissed this point, noting that the matter of filing the case could be addressed elsewhere.
Mazari questioned how the investigation was proceeding if no report had been filed for five days, and Judge Minhas responded that he would directly involve the IGP to oversee the investigation.
Mazari emphasized that intelligence agencies were likely responsible for the abductions, alleging the brothers were targeted due to Noorani’s recent reporting. Justice Minhas remarked that he would not pass any orders that could not be effectively implemented.
Mazari requested the court adjourn the case until either today or tomorrow, and the hearing was rescheduled for March 26.
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