Daily Times

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered the police and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to recover 19 missing children and submit a report by January 17.

A two-member bench, headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, was hearing a case regarding the missing children. The bench expressed its concern over the disappearance of children and questioned performance of the law enforcement agencies. “Children are being reported missing but you people are resting in peace,” Justice Agha remarked. The court expressed its displeasure over absence of the FIA officials and summoned the FIA director in the next hearing.

The judges ordered that the FIA and Police should work jointly and take steps for recovery of the children reported missing and also use modern technology to trace the children. The bench directed the Police deputy inspector general (DIG) P to remain present at each hearing of the missing children case. The DIG informed the court that the Police Department was holding meeting in I.G. Police office to discuss recovery of the missing children. “We have nothing to do with the meetings, we want recovery of the children,” the judge replied.

The court ordered the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to trace 19 missing children and submit report in the court by January 17.

A petition was filed by the Roshni Research and Development Welfare in 2012 seeking court orders for the provincial police to consider missing children cases and register FIRs in that regard. The petition claimed that cases of missing kids were not properly investigated by the police department.

Published in Daily Times, December 21^st2018.