Rights Watch | 20th January 2021

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah holds Prime Minister and federal cabinet responsible for enforced disappearances in the federal territory; Peshawar police arrest a man for sexually assaulting two minor boys in the past week; Lower Dir police constitute two teams for the recovery of missing 12-year-old Hina

380
Rights Watch

PM, federal cabinet responsible for enforced disappearances in ICT

During a Tuesday, January 19 hearing on a petition filed by Nasreen Begum for the recovery of her son Imran Khan who was picked up in 2015, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah stated that the prime minister and the federal cabinet were responsible for enforced disappearances in the federal capital.

The court observed that the federal government is constitutionally obligated to guarantee citizens’ right to their well-being and security. Justice Athar Minallah furthermore directed the Attorney-General to produce a list of all Premieres and cabinet members who have held office from 2015 till the next date of hearing.

Peshawar man arrested for raping two boys

On Tuesday, Peshawar police arrested one Saadullah for sexually assaulting two minor boys in the past week. Per the police report, a resident of Lalazar Colony approached the police, stating that his six-year-old son had come home crying that day and told his family that the suspect took him to an unfamiliar house and sexually assaulted him. The rape survivor further added that the assailant threatened to kill him if he told his family anything.

Another complainant revealed to police that his seven-year-old son was raped by the same man five days ago, however he failed to report the crime because of social pressure. He decided to file a complaint after seeing the parents of the six-year-old seek justice.

A case was registered against Saadullah after a medico-legal examination confirmed that both boys had been sexually assaulted. The accused confessed to the crime during initial interrogation.

Lower Dir girl remains missing for nearly a month

Lower Dir police constitute two teams for the recovery of 12-year-old Hina, the daughter of a poor labourer, who has been missing for the past one month. The family has alleged that the police were aware of the girl’s disappearance but had not taken any action to trace the minor.