Supreme Court tells Centre to file status report on missing Versova youth Hamid Ansari

A year after Versova-based Hamid Ansari, a 27-year-old management graduate, allegedly went missing in Pakistan, the Supreme Court, based on Ansari’s mother Fauzia’s petition, has directed the Centre to take up the issue and submit a status report by next week.

On Friday,  a bench of justices CK Prasad and Kurian Joseph asked additional solicitor general Indira Jaisingh, who represents the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to look into the matter and submit a report on the missing Ansari’s whereabouts in a week’s time.

Confirming this development, advocate Arvind Sharma, appearing for Fauzia Ansari, said, “The court has asked the additional solicitor general to get the update and take necessary steps through diplomatic channels in Pakistan and submit a report in the next hearing.”

On April 28, dna had reported how in November 2012, Ansari left for a job interview in Kabul, Afghanistan, on a tourist visa. His parents later learnt through Facebook records and conversations that he had allegedly entered Peshawar in Pakistan to rescue a friend who was being married off against her wishes. He has been missing ever since.

In a bid to find him, his parents have been knocking all possible doors, including those of the Pakistan embassy, MEA, other ministries and NGOs, but to no avail.

Fauzia told dna, “I had filed a petition in September after taking guidance from UK solicitor Jas Uppal, who had fought for Sarabjit Singh’s release. I’m happy that the SC has given this directive to the Centre. I have full faith in the government and the intelligence agencies. I’m hopeful that they will find my son.”