Islamabad High Court Seeks Defense Ministry Policy Report on Briefing Procedure in Missing Citizen Case

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court has requested a policy report from the Ministry of Defense regarding the procedure for briefings in the case of missing citizen Umar Abdullah.

The hearing, presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, was conducted on the plea filed by Umar Abdullah’s wife, Zainab Zaim, seeking the recovery of her missing husband. The court summoned a representative from the Ministry of Defense and instructed them to clarify, through a law officer, the official procedure for briefings.

During the proceedings, Justice Kayani questioned why in-camera briefings, which are normally conducted, had not been provided in this case. The Assistant Attorney General requested additional time to provide the necessary instructions. Justice Kayani noted that 15 years have passed and emphasized the need for transparency, stating that the court must understand the case properly and be convinced whether the individual is genuinely missing or otherwise.

The court directed that the Ministry inform it of the briefing policy by the next hearing and adjourned the case until February 24.