SC disposes of land-grabbing case against Faiz Hameed

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court disposed of a petition accusing former DG ISI Lt. General (r) Faiz Hameed of abduction and land grabbing without getting into the merits of the case.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aminuddin Khan, took up a petition filed by a man named Mueez Ahmad Khan on Wednesday.

The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that Khan had was abducted along with five members of his family by the former spy master on May 12, 2017. He accused the retired general of taking land in return for their release.

The petitioner requested the court to order the ministry of defence to take action against Hameed.

However, the bench did not even consider the merits of the case and disposed of the petition. The bench ruled that the petitioner has other forums where their request can be heard.

During the hearing Justice Isa observed that there were two petitions on the same matter infront of the court, the other being filed by British citizen Zahida Aslam. The petitioner’s lawyer tried to argue for a delay to prepare for the case but was not entertained by the court.

Justice Isa remarked that the court would take a break and allow the lawyer to prepare his arguments.

However, when the hearing resumed, it revolved around the fact that the case had been filed through the Human Rights Cell in the court.

Justice Isa remarked that former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar had heard the matter in his chamber and issued notices to FIA and CTD.

Jusitce Minallah remarked that the cell had been declared illegal by the Islamabad High Court and it had not been established under any law.

The bench then disposed of the petition and told the petitioner to approach other forums.