End disappearances, impunity for perpetrators now, HRCP urges PM

Lahore, August 29: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to launch immediately a drive to put an end to enforced disappearance of citizens and also end the impunity for the illegal practice.

In a letter sent to the prime minister on the eve of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30, HRCP urged him to immediately act “to making the horrible crime of enforced disappearance and impunity for that crime a thing of the past in Pakistan”.

HRCP noted that enforced disappearance had “spread terror and insecurity not just among the victims and their families but also in society as a whole for over a decade now”. It said that although the issue had been taken up at the highest level, it remained unresolved.

“With the formation of a new government and since you as its head were acutely aware of the seriousness of the issue, HRCP had dared to hope that there will be greater resolve to eliminate this practice that must not have any place in any society that considers itself civilized,” HRCP stated.

However, the Commission expressed “extreme concern that citizens are being picked up even today and bodies of missing persons are being dumped. This state of affairs is adding to the suffering of the families of the missing persons, causing unrest among the citizens and making it difficult for them to again start having confidence in the state.”

HRCP further wrote that nothing that the government did now could erase memories of the terrible crime for the victims and their families. “In fact, this violation will forever remain an indelible blemish on Pakistan’s human rights record. That is all the more reason to not let disappearances go on for even a single day more.”

HRCP called upon the prime minister to take all necessary action to make this horrible practice history, and particularly urged him to:

·         “Order all state agencies to cooperate in the recovery of all missing persons and desist from abducting citizens, keeping them in secret detention or killing them and dumping their dead bodies.

·         End the widespread impunity for enforced disappearance. In fact, over the last few weeks, several state functionaries have been identified for involvement in enforced disappearances. We hope that the earliest possible start of proceedings against them would contribute at least a little to the people’s confidence.

·         Ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

·         Arrange payment of compensation for families of the missing persons that have been suffering for years.”

Zohra Yusuf

Chairperson

 

Category: English