LHC orders police to produce woman and children in custody petition

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered police to recover and produce a woman holding permanent residency in Italy along with her two minor children, and directed authorities to begin the process of placing their names on the Passport Control List.

Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar issued the directions while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Waqas Noor, who sought the recovery of his wife and their two minor children.

During the hearing, the SP Cantonment Operations and other police officials appeared before the court. The parents of the petitioner’s wife were also present.

Advocate Rafiq Jathol, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that his client’s wife had left the house and taken the children with her. He alleged that the woman was in the custody of her parents and could leave the country with their minor son and daughter.

The woman’s parents, however, told the court that they were not in contact with their daughter, Ammara Noor. They said she and her children were in Islamabad to visit the Italian embassy, apparently for processing her travel to Italy.

Court directions

The court directed police to start the process for placing the names of the woman and the children on the Passport Control List (PCL).

Justice Zafar also ordered police to ensure that the petitioner’s wife and children are produced before the court on Thursday. The judge said that if this was not done, the Punjab inspector general of police could be summoned.

The matter came before the court through a habeas corpus petition in which the petitioner sought the recovery of his wife and children. The proceedings focused on the whereabouts of the woman and the minors, as well as the petitioner’s concern that they might leave Pakistan. The woman’s parents informed the court that they had no contact with their daughter Ammara Noor.

According to in court, the parents said their daughter and her children were in Islamabad for a visit to the Italian embassy in connection with what appeared to be travel arrangements for Italy.

The court’s order requires police to trace and produce the woman and the children before the bench, while also moving to restrict any possible foreign travel by placing their names on the PCL.