The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad in connection with the alleged enforced disappearance of two brothers of US-based investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani.

Noorani’s mother, Amina Bashir, filed a petition before the IHC seeking the recovery of her sons, Muhammad Saifur Rehman Haider and Muhammad Ali, who were allegedly abducted from their Islamabad residence in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The plea, filed by Advocate Imaan Hazir Mazari, accused unnamed officials, allegedly from intelligence agencies, of abducting Noorani’s brothers as a reprisal for his recent report published on FactFocus, which investigated a serving senior military official.

Justice Raja Inam Ameen Minhas, presiding over the case, expressed dissatisfaction with the police report submitted by the SHO of Noon Police Station and questioned the lack of urgency shown by law enforcement. 

Mazari criticised the police for failing to register an FIR even six days after the incident, questioning how an investigation was proceeding without a formal complaint. The judge clarified that he would not issue unenforceable orders but stressed the need for a thorough inquiry.

The court has adjourned the hearing until March 26, with orders for the Islamabad IGP to appear and provide a detailed update on the investigation.