The Sindh High Court (SHC) constitutional bench convened on Wednesday to address ongoing petitions concerning the recovery of three individuals reported missing from Karachi. During the proceedings, police officials updated the court on recent developments, revealing that two of the missing persons, who had disappeared from the jurisdictions of Gulshan Iqbal and Shahrah Noorjahan police stations, have now been located and have safely returned to their families.
Specifically, the police identified the two individuals as Noman Shah and Saif ur Rehman. Their safe return marks a significant development in the cases that had raised concerns among their relatives and the wider community. Following this update, the SHC bench took the decision to dismiss the petitions related to these two persons, acknowledging the resolution of their cases. However, the court emphasized that investigations must continue for the remaining missing individuals and accordingly summoned progress reports from law enforcement agencies regarding their recovery efforts.
In earlier hearings, the court had already dismissed two other petitions after being informed that Zulfiqar and Abdul Haq, also reported missing, had returned to their homes. Despite these positive outcomes, Justice Zafar Rajput, presiding over the bench, expressed clear dissatisfaction with the manner in which police have been handling cases of disappeared persons. The judge questioned the investigative procedures in place, asking if any formal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) had been established to guide the police in such sensitive matters.
Justice Rajput further inquired whether the police had gathered critical information such as national identity card details, passport records, or banking transactions related to the missing individuals. The investigation officer responded that while letters had been sent to relevant departments seeking such information, no responses had been received to date. This lack of cooperation or follow-up raised concerns about the thoroughness and effectiveness of the investigations.
The court also highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the circumstances of the disappearances, pointing out that it remained unclear whether these citizens had truly gone missing involuntarily or had chosen to remain out of contact intentionally. The investigation officer assured the bench that the police were adhering to the court’s directives, but Justice Rajput urged the officers to prioritize proactive investigative work over procedural formalities, emphasizing that courts would continue to oversee the progress but the primary responsibility lies with the police to resolve these cases promptly.
This session of the Sindh High Court underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing cases of missing persons in Karachi. It also reflects the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in such investigations, while pressing authorities to improve their operational protocols. Families of missing individuals continue to await answers, hoping that the combined efforts of the courts and police will lead to swift resolutions in all outstanding cases.
