Pakistan: PML-N’s help sought in missing persons’ case

The relatives of missing persons on Friday sought the help of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for the recovery of their near and dear ones. On behalf of the fathers, mothers, sisters, spouses and children of the missing persons, Defence of Human Rights Chairperson Ms Amina Masood Janjua wrote a letter to the PML-N leadership, a copy of which was available with The News.

“I request you with the utmost depths of my heart to honour your promises you made with the helpless mothers, daughters, wives and sisters of the missing persons. They are still suffering, longing for their loved-ones and desperately need your help. Please do not forget them in the hour of need,” she requested the PML leaders.

Ms Janjua recalled the commitments and promises made by Sharif brothers with the exceedingly upset relatives of those who had gone missing, saying: “I want to convey the grief of the families who are still waiting every second for any information about the whereabouts and release of their loved-ones.”

Referring to the forced disappearances in different countries, including Pakistan, she said the issue of missing persons was a global humanitarian issue, which need a global solution with the participation of the whole world.

The rights campaigner, whose husband Masood Janjua is also missing since 2005, reminded Nawaz Sharif of her meeting with him on February 2 this year, during which, he had made a promise to play his role in the recovery of the missing persons.

“Let Pakistan be the first in condemning and stopping the enforced disappearances and stand for humanity, rule of law and justice. The PML-N can rightly take the credit of resolving a severe humanitarian violation, the service that they owe to the aggrieved families of missing persons of Pakistan. Already we have witnessed that the PML-N leadership has stood up for rule of law, justice and human rights and set an example,” she said in the letter.

Ms Janjua was hopeful that the government of Pakistan and the provincial government of Shahbaz Sharif would take concrete steps for resolving the issue of missing persons on priority basis.

Some of the crucially important steps expected from the national democratic leadership, she suggested, are:

• Illegal practices of snatching loved ones away without any evidence and dumping them in underground torture cells for years and years would be stopped immediately.
• Already those who are suffering in the custody of local or foreign agencies would be released immediately or given a right to fair and free trial in an open court with access to family and legal aid. Those suffering abroad like Dr Aafia and Saifullah Paracha should be safely and honourably brought back.
• The central and Punjab governments would make legislation in the Parliament and provincial assemblies to hold accountable extra judicial and illegal kidnappings irrespective of the authority, which involves in it institutions like army, police, agencies or any private party.
• Making sure that families of the missing persons are regularly informed about steps taken by the government to trace their loved-ones. Moreover, economically, the families of missing persons would be well taken care of so that business of the family and education of the children might not suffer.
• The government should declare the status of the person in clear terms like missing, dead or traced. So that financial and psychological agonies of the family members can be addressed and the next of kin could make use of the property and money invested/deposited in banks etc.
• The government has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which would be followed in letter and spirit. The United Nations New Charter for the Enforced Disappeared would be signed and ratified by the Government of Pakistan.

(Source: The News PML-N’s help sought in missing persons’ case)