HRCP

Karachi: In a statement issued to the press, Mr. Iqbal Haider, Secretary General expressing his grave concern over the continued enforced disappearances stated that even after the commendable suo moto notice taken by the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding enforced disappearance of around 40 persons and the HRCP's Constitution Petition against the disappearance of about 158 citizens of Pakistan, it is shocking that the Law Enforcement Agencies are continuing to kidnap and disappear citizens, without any check or restrain.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) continues to receive regularly complaints of kidnapping and disappearances of citizens from various parts of Pakistan . According to the recent complaints received a 17 years old student of matriculation, Mr. Afzal Dilbar, President, Baloch Students Organization Pasani, along with his three friends, Mr. Gul Muhammad, MR. Shabbir and Mr. Muhmmad, was reportedly picked up by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tehsil Tump and SHO Tump Police Station on February 15, 2007 from Tehsil Tump, District Kech, Balochistan and then they were handed over to Frontier Constabulary. Since then their whereabouts remain unknown. The family members of the disappeared victims approached the Tump Police Station but no FIR could be registered.

Another case reported to HRCP from the same District is of Mr. Noor Jan. He was reportedly picked up by law enforcement agency personnel in plain clothes from Ghulam Nabi Petrol Pump, Salala Bazar, Tehsil Turbat, District Kech on February 09, 2007 . Since then the whereabouts of Mr. Jan remain unknown.

Mr. Haider reiterates its demands and calls upon the Federal and Provincial Governments and all the Law Enforcement Agencies functioning there under:

1. To ensure release or production in the Courts forthwith of all the illegally arrested, abducted and disappeared citizens.

2. To disclose reasons, justifications and charges, if any, for the arrest of the abducted citizens.

3. To restrain all the authorities from illegally arresting/abducting, torturing, victimizing and harassing the said detenues or implicating them in false and fabricated cases and to ensure their physical well being.

4. To allow advocates and members of the families of the victims to meet the disappeared/abducted citizens wherever they may be detained in the custody of civil or military authorities.

5. To take strict disciplinary action and prosecute Officers of the Law Enforcement Agencies involved in such inhuman and illegal activities and to ensure exemplary punishment to them.

Issued by:
Muhammad Ejaz Ahsan
Program Coordinator, HRCP