Petition Filed in Peshawar High Court Seeking Recovery of KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati

PESHAWAR: A constitutional petition has been filed in the Peshawar High Court seeking the recovery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, following allegations that he was abducted by armed and masked men.
The petition was filed under Article 199 of the Constitution by Waqar Ahmed Khan, a cousin of the provincial assembly speaker, through Supreme Court advocate Bashir Khan Wazir.
Allegations of Abduction
According to the petitioner, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati was allegedly abducted by armed and masked individuals in the presence of the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar.
The petition claims that the speaker's life, liberty and physical safety are at serious risk and that information regarding his whereabouts has not been provided.
The petitioner maintains that the alleged abduction of the elected head of the provincial legislature is not merely a matter concerning an individual's liberty but also raises serious questions about the province's constitutional and democratic system.
The petition further argues that keeping an elected speaker in unlawful custody would violate Articles 4, 9, 10 and 14 of the Constitution.

Relief Sought from the High Court
The petitioner has requested the court to order the immediate recovery of Babar Saleem Swati and direct authorities to produce him before the court.
The petition also seeks an explanation from the relevant authorities regarding the speaker's whereabouts, who may be holding him, and the legal authority under which his liberty was allegedly restricted.
The petitioner has specifically requested the court to direct the CCPO Peshawar to submit complete details about the alleged abduction, the individuals present at the scene and the security arrangements in place at the time.
Demand for an Independent Investigation
The petition seeks an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into the alleged abduction, along with the identification of those responsible and legal action against them.
It also requests orders to preserve all relevant evidence, including CCTV footage, security records and details of entry and exit points.
Furthermore, the petitioner has asked the court to direct police authorities to submit a detailed report on the steps taken to recover the speaker and provide regular progress reports until his recovery.
Request for Urgent Hearing
Describing the matter as highly sensitive and urgent, the petitioner has urged the High Court to schedule the case for hearing without delay.
The petition also requests that, if unlawful detention is established, the court order the speaker's immediate release and ensure protection of his constitutional rights.
Important note: The allegations outlined above reflect the petitioner's claims and requests for judicial relief. The allegations have not been independently verified in the information provided, and the case's legal and factual position remains subject to further investigation and court proceedings.