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IHC Told Missing Citizen is in Military Custody, Family Meeting to be Arranged
Mudassar Khan, missing since March, confirmed in military custody, says Ministry of Defence. IHC orders authorities to allow family meeting.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-28
IHC Told Missing Citizen is in Military Custody, Family Meeting to be Arranged

The Ministry of Defence informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday that Mudassar Khan, a citizen missing since March, is in military custody and facing trial. The revelation came during a hearing of a petition filed by Mr. Khan’s wife, Nazima Fatehyab.

According to the ministry’s report, Mr. Khan went missing from Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and is now undergoing trial, though details of the charges remain undisclosed.

The petitioner's counsel, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, urged the court to allow Mr. Khan's family to meet him. In response, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani directed the Ministry of Defence to facilitate the meeting as per legal protocols and adjourned the hearing to a later date.

Brigadier Falak Naz from the Ministry of Defence and the assistant attorney general also attended the hearing.

Background on the Case

Mr. Khan's disappearance was first reported in March, and the case has been under review by the Missing Persons Commission since August. His wife claimed to have received a phone call from him in November, during which he disclosed being in the custody of an unnamed agency.

In the last hearing, Justice Kayani had instructed the Military Intelligence director-general to submit a sealed report detailing Mr. Khan's whereabouts, which culminated in the Defence Ministry’s admission.

The petitioner has requested that her husband be produced before an appropriate forum, calling for greater transparency in the legal process.

Significance and Next Steps

The case highlights ongoing concerns surrounding enforced disappearances in Pakistan, with families often left in limbo about their loved ones' fates. The court's direction to facilitate a meeting between Mr. Khan and his family marks a step forward in addressing their concerns.

The hearing is expected to continue as the IHC reviews further developments, with wider implications for cases involving missing persons and their legal rights.

 

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