The Lahore High Court (LHC) has taken a strong stance in the case of the arrest and disappearance of former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) head, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad. In a recent development, the court has ordered the Regional Police Officer (RPO) to promptly locate Sheikh Rasheed and submit a report within one week.
Arrest and Disappearance of Sheikh Rasheed
Last week, Sheikh Rasheed was arrested from his residence in Rawalpindi, leading to concerns about his whereabouts as the police claimed to have no information regarding his location.
During the court hearing, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan from the Rawalpindi bench of LHC expressed dissatisfaction with the RPO, Syed Khurram Ali, for failing to recover the prominent politician.
Read More: Canadian Sikhs Protest Against Indian Government
The court issued a stern warning that if the police failed to locate Sheikh Rasheed, strict action would be taken against the law enforcement agency. The RPO requested an additional week, which the court granted.
Plea Filed Against Arrest
Earlier, Sheikh Rasheed’s legal team had filed a plea in the Lahore High Court against his arrest. The plea highlighted that Punjab police arrested him without proper warrants and that he was being held at an undisclosed location. It emphasized that there were no charges against him, and no ongoing investigations justified his arrest.
This recent turn of events has garnered significant attention and raised concerns about Sheikh Rasheed’s well-being and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. The court has given authorities until October 2 to recover Sheikh Rasheed and others involved. If this deadline is not met, the court has warned of strict action and the issuance of notices to the RPO.
“In failing to do so, strict action will be taken against the force,” the LHC judge remarked.