KARACHI, Feb 7: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is disappointed to see that Pakistan is not among the pioneer signatories to a UN convention against enforced disappearances. The convention was officially opened for signature in Paris on Tuesday.

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances was approved by the UN General Assembly in January 2007, which was jointly championed by France and Argentina.

“It is a matter of utter disappointment to see that Pakistan has not even bothered to sign this UN Convention, which has been signed by some 57 countries, including India,” HRCP secretary-general Iqbal Haider told Dawn. Mr Haider reiterated the HRCP demand that Islamabad must sign and ratify the UN Convention against the enforced disappearances with the provisions of it in the letter and in spirit.

He also demanded that the federal, provincial governments and law-enforcement agencies must ensure release or production in the courts forthwith of all the illegally arrested, abducted and disappeared citizens and disclose reasons, justifications and charges, if any, for the arrest of the “abducted citizens”.

“All the authorities should restrain from illegally arresting or abducting, torturing, victimizing and harassing the said detained persons or implicating them in false or fabricated cases and to ensure their physical well being,” said Mr Haider, adding, “The authorities should allow advocates and members of the families of the victims to meet the disappeared or abducted citizens wherever they might be detained in the custody of civil or military authorities.”