June 05 2006: The Sindh High Court once again directed the secretaries of Interior and Defence Ministries to file their comments on the whereabouts of a satellite TV channel’s Managing Director, who was allegedly arrested by the law enforcement agencies on April 4, 2006.

Munir Ahmed Mengal, head of a Dubai based satellite TV Channel Baloch Voice, was taken away by the law enforcement agencies soon as he reached at Karachi airport from Dubai on April 4, 2006, alleged his wife Abeera Munir in the petition. The petitioner said her spouse reached Karachi airport on April 4 and he informed her on the telephone that he had been detained by the FIA at the airport.

She said when the concerned FIA authorities were contacted they said that Munir was cleared by the FIA but some personnel of the secret agencies had taken him away. As the matter was taken up before the SHC division bench comprising Mr. Justice Zawar Hussain Jaffery and Mr. Justice Ali Sain Dino Metlo, standing counsel Tariq Ali told the court that he had not yet received a reply from the secretaries of the Interior and Defence Ministries and sought time.

The court adjourned the hearing for June 7, 2006 and directed the secretaries of the Interior and Defence Ministries to file their comments on the whereabouts of the petitioner’s spouse after verification from all agencies working under their control. Earlier, the Sindh Government had denied the arrest or detention of the petitioner’s spouse by any law enforcement agency in the province. The FIA has denied Munir’s arrest or detention and said that he had cleared from immigration counter at 5:21:30 on April 4, 2006.
Source: Daily Star
Date:6/5/2006