Court slams police probe into 'abduction' of Pakistani journalist's brothers

A Pakistani court declared the police findings unsatisfactory on Monday in the alleged abduction of journalist Ahmed Noorani's two brothers.

Justice Inam Ameen Minhas of the Islamabad High Court summoned the capital police chief on Wednesday, directing him to submit a comprehensive report.

M. Saif ur Rehman Haider and Muhammad Ali were allegedly abducted from their home in Islamabad in the early hours of March 19. Their mother, Ameena Bashir, filed a habeas corpus petition the same day.

During the hearing, Justice Minhas questioned Station House Officer (SHO) Kamal Khan about the progress of the investigation.

Khan responded that authorities had conducted geofencing, reviewed Call Data Records (CDR), and checked police stations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Justice Minhas then asked, "What are your findings?"

Khan replied that the investigation was still ongoing. The judge, dissatisfied, remarked, "You've submitted a report without any findings. I want to know the results—what have you actually done?"

The state attorney requested more time, prompting Justice Minhas to summon the Islamabad police chief and instruct him to submit a report within two days.

'Police negligence'

Advocates Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha, representing petitioner Ameena Bashir, argued that the police should face departmental action for failing to register an official complaint about the abduction for six days.

During the proceedings, Ameena Bashir pleaded with the court, "Who will be responsible if something happens to my sons? I still don't know where they are."

Justice Minhas noted, "At the last hearing, I immediately removed objections and accepted the petition. I also passed an order the same day. However, my powers are limited, and I must follow the legal process."

Advocate Mazari pointed out that the petitioner's other son, Ahmed Noorani, an investigative journalist based in the U.S., had "published a report on the army chief shortly before the abduction". She stated that the petition names the Secretary of Defense as a respondent “because of direct allegations against the intelligence agencies, MI and ISI.”

“Families of journalists are being subjected to collective punishment," she argued.

Justice Minhas responded, "I can't pass an order that won't be implemented," and adjourned the hearing until Wednesday.

Mysterious phone calls

After the hearing, Haider and Ali's sister, Saira Bashir, told Nukta that she and her relatives had received phone calls from the abducted brothers' cell numbers on multiple occasions on Friday. However, when they answered, no one spoke.

She expressed concerns that the calls were made by agencies or police to create the impression that her brothers were in contact with the family.

Saira also revealed that SHO Khan had promised to register a first information report (FIR) and provide them with a copy but had not followed through.