Daily Times

KARACHI: Even after the passage of almost a month the Sindh police doesn’t seem to have a clue about the whereabouts of the missing aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari as the Sindh High Court directed the home secretary to constitute a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising the representatives of security and intelligence agencies to track him down.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Irfan Saddat Khan gave this direction while hearing the petition seeking whereabouts of Ghulam Qadir Marri, who was said to be illegally detained by the law enforcement agencies.

At the outset, the SSP Jamshoro turned up before the bench and presented the progress report, saying all-out efforts were being made to recover the missing man.

He informed that a special investigation team was also constituted for swift recovery of Marri, whereas the geo-fencing of all his four cellphone numbers was also underway.

While taking the report on record, the judges directed the SSP to appear in the court on the next hearing along with progress report.

Meanwhile, the investigation officer told the judges that he had written to the home department to form JIT, however, it is yet to respond.

Ismail Marri, the brother of the missing PPP activist, had filed the petition seeking directives for the law enforcement agencies to trace out his missing brother, his friend – Khan Muhammad Mangi and two servants – Mehboob Ali Khashkheli and Javed Rehman.

Marri is one of Zardari’s three close aides who are said to have been kidnapped in April. Ashfaq Leghari – who worked for Omni Group and Nawab Leghari – former Sindh government adviser – were among the missing Zardari’s aides.

Earlier, advocate Shahab Sarki, the petitioner’s counsel, had submitted that Marri, a PPP staunch supporter, was kidnapped on April 07 near Jamshoro when he was returning home from Naudero after attending the death anniversary of Zulifqar Ali Bhutto.

Marri, who is also a businessman and owned a vast agricultural land, was traveling in his white land cruiser along with his friend, driver and another servant.

The counsel said that the missing petitioner’s brother was in contact with his family members till late Friday evening. Later, they learned through a news channel that his brother had gone missing as his vehicle was found abandoned near Jamshoro power house, he added.

Sarki submitted that Marri was suffering from multiple ailments, including cancer, diabetes, and high-blood pressure and having periodic medical check-ups. His confinement would have extremely detrimental effect on his health as he was also undergoing cyberknife therapy.

“Marri was being victimized by the establishment due to his political affiliation,” the petitioner said while adding his brother was a law-abiding citizen and would be willing to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies with regard to any investigation according to law.

If he is required in any case, he should be produced before a court of law, he argued. Abductee’s fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution were being violated.

The petitioner pleaded the court to direct the respondent authorities to produce him in court and restrain them from taking any adverse action against him.