The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Defence Ministry to file its report by September 21 about missing husband of a petitioner Naureen Ijaz otherwise the defence secretary will be summoned in the court. Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif issued this order while hearing a habeas corpus petition of Naureen Ijaz seeking recovery of her husband Ijaz Hussain from alleged detention of secret agencies.
Earlier a deputy attorney general submitted a letter of deputy director (legal) of defence ministry Hussain Shahbaz who sought adjournment from the court. The letter stated that a report from agencies working under ministry's domain was awaited and a two-week time was required for the purpose.
The chief justice observed that on last hearing the law officer had sought time and now the ministry requested for adjournment. He, however, allowed time in case the requisite report was not submitted by next hearing the defence secretary will be summoned. In this case Punjab home secretary had already told the court no order for the detention of petitioner's husband had been issued by his department nor he was in custody of provincial authorities.
Petitioner Naureen Ijaz submitted that her husband, Ijaz Hussain ran a business of rubber parts in Kot Lakhpat and employed about 15 labourers. She said one of them was Qari Obaidullah. She said on July 6, 2010, four plain clothed men arrived at Ijaz business place and asked for one of his employees namely Qari Obaidullah. But, she said, the men also took away her husband besides Qari.