The Islamabad High Court (IHC), presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Tuesday has ordered a full investigation into allegations that police personnel were involved in the abduction of a woman and her three minor daughters, and the subsequent registration of false criminal cases against them.
The petition concerns the case of Sana Sohail, her 12-year-old daughter Harim, 7-year-old Laiba, and 3-year-old Nimra, who were allegedly abducted from Lahore on September 17 and transported to Islamabad, where a criminal case was later filed at Tarnol Police Station on September 20.
The court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director Crimes to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe alleged involvement of police officers in kidnapping, forced entry into the home, robbery, and the fabrication of charges.
The Islamabad Police Inspector General and the SP of the CIA Centre were summoned to explain how vehicles linked to the family were traced from Lahore to Islamabad, contradicting claims made in the FIR about a police encounter.
Justice Kayani remarked that the actions seen in video evidence showed a blatant violation of the rights of women and children. He also indicated that the matter would be referred to the Chief Minister and Inspector General of Punjab as officials from both Punjab and Islamabad Police appeared to be involved.
The SSP Investigation was instructed to record the statement of the mother and submit a report. A coordination meeting was scheduled at the SSP Operations Office the following day. Counsel for the petitioners, Latif Khosa, expressed distrust in the police inquiry, calling it a “complete cover-up.”
The case has been adjourned to the second week of November, pending investigation reports from the JIT and relevant authorities.
