Missing brothers’ case: SHO ordered to submit written response

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday directed the station house officer (SHO) of the Hayatabad Police Station to submit his written response in the case of four missing brothers.

A single bench of Justice Ijaz Anwar heard the case and expressed concern over the growing number of such incidents.The court was hearing a petition filed by Gulalai Alkozai, the sister of the missing brothers Usman Khan Alkozai, Muhammad Nasir, Abdul Waris, and Zahir Shah Alkozai.

The four men were reportedly abducted by armed individuals from their home in Hayatabad six months ago. Even after months, no information could be provided about their wherabouts.Nadir Shah appearing for the petitioner informed the court that the SHO Hayatabad was visible in the CCTV footage, which raised concerns about police involvement.

Addressing the SHO, Justice Ijaz Anwar asked, “Will you swear on the Holy Quran that you were not involved in the abduction?”After a brief adjournment, the additional SHO appeared in court and denied involvement in the case by swearing that he had not picked up the four brothers. The court directed him to submit a written affidavit affirming his statement.