IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the petition of Zeeshan Khan seeking recovery of his uncle, Abdul Wahid Rehman, who has been missing since 30 November 2021 from the jurisdiction of Kohsar police station, Islamabad.
The police registered a first information report (FIR) on 1 December 2021 under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) over the abduction.
Interpol had informed local police that the last location on the Rehman’s WhatsApp was Delhi Gate Lahore, from where the device was permanently switched off
The IHC was told that whereabouts of the missing person could not be traced "despite serious efforts". His counsel, advocate Raheel Khan Yousafzai, contended before the court that it was the duty of state agencies to recover him, and if his client was in the custody of any law enforcement agency, he must be produced before the court of competent jurisdiction.
During the course of hearing, advocate Yousafzai told the court that since Mr. Rehman was a German national, Interpol was also investigating his disappearance and had shared some details with local police.
Yousafzai informed the court that Interpol had told local police that the last location on the Rehman’s WhatsApp was Delhi Gate Lahore, from where the device was permanently switched off.
The court was also told that the missing German national was a translator by profession and interviewed Iranian and Afghani people for his clients.
The counsel said Rehman was also in touch with senior military officers and a few of them were among his close friends.
Citing the initial investigation report of the police, advocate Yousafzai said the report revealed that Rehman was making multi-million rupee investments with two former generals and a financial adviser.
According to the lawyer, the financial adviser was also in contact with the German spouse of Mr. Rehman. He informed the court that Mr. Rehman was also in touch with two retired generals before he was kidnapped.
The court asked the police if they sought permission from military authorities to probe the former generals.
Assistant Attorney General Usman Ghumman told the court that since the officers had retired from active service, the police were under no obligation to seek permission from the General Headquarters (GHQ) or any intelligence agencies to investigate them.
Justice Kayani then directed the police to include the former generals, the financial adviser, and other persons of interest in the investigation to trace the whereabouts of the missing person.