The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Saturday ordered a probe into the death of a citizen who had allegedly gone missing from Nowshera and was later reported killed in a police encounter in Kohat.

A bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali heard a writ petition filed by the missing man’s wife. The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Sibghtullah, and government and police officials appeared before the court.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that Awal Zadin had allegedly been taken into custody after being removed from a passenger vehicle at Risalpur on May 23. He said the family had approached the court seeking his recovery, but was later informed that Awal Zadin had been killed in an alleged police encounter in Kohat.

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In its written order, the court noted the petitioner’s claim that her husband had been allegedly taken away from a passenger vehicle at Risalpur on May 23 and subsequently disappeared.

The court directed the police chief to appoint an officer of at least the rank of superintendent of police to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the disappearance and subsequent alleged killing.

The investigation report must be submitted to the court within 20 days. The court adjourned the further hearing of the petition until September 7.