IHC summons DIG, SP in missing PTI security chief case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the DIG operations and the relevant SP to appear in person at the next hearing regarding the recovery of Umar Sultan, the missing security chief of PTI founder Imran Khan.

The court adjourned the case until September 18. During hearing, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq expressed serious concern about performance of Islamabad police, remarking, “When they can’t control crime, they resort to poetry. What is Islamabad police doing? It is colluding with the property mafia in incidents of illegal land occupation. Citizens are being abducted from every sector.” The petitioner’s lawyer said in the last hearing, the SP had recited a couplet and assured the court the matter would be resolved. The CJ, visibly displeased, said crime in Islamabad is rising while the police remain unaware. The counsel explained he had complied with court’s directive by sharing relevant information with the SP, who had appeared in person at the previous hearing and taken responsibility for resolving the matter. The state counsel responded that these were mere allegations, saying that the abducted individual had been seen in a vehicle in a CCTV footage and that geo-fencing had been sought, but the report was still pending. In response, CJ Aamer Farooq inquired when the report would be available. The state counsel assured the court it would be ready within a week. The CJ then expressed frustration, asking, “What have you done since the order was issued on the 30th?”The court has now summoned the DIG operations and the respective SP to appear in person at the next hearing, scheduled for September 18. —Online