ISLAMABAD, March 6: A panel of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) will take up with Pakistani authorities the issue of alleged disappearances of over 137 persons, besides other problems like growing human rights violations, curtailed press freedom and political victimisation under the garb of the ‘war on terror’.
“We will convey your grievances to the Pakistani authorities,” Arthur Chaskalson, Chief Justice and first President of the South Africa’s Constitutional Court, told the families of disappeared persons at the conclusion of a two-day public hearing here on Tuesday.
Government representatives did not turn up for the hearing jointly organised by the ICJ and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on impacts of the war on terror on human rights despite receiving invitations.
Amid sighs, anguish and tears, the family members narrated the tales of disappearances of their dear ones -– some directly picked up by secret agencies and police in the presence of people and others on their way home or offices.
The family members said that they had not seen their dear ones since their disappearances and that they were under extreme pressure from agencies warning them to stay away from knocking the doors of courts or media.
“I have not seen my husband for the last 20 months. He was never brought before any court of law nor we were told what crime he has committed,” Amna Masood, wife of Masood Ahmed Janjua, told the panel. She said her husband was picked by the intelligence agencies along with his friend after the July 7 bombings of London metro service because they had beard.
“In Pakistan you are a terrorist until proven innocent,” she told the panel.
A number of families said that they got information about the whereabouts of their disappeared members from some people recently released by the government.
“My son Attiqurehman, an officer at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, was picked up on June 25, 2004, the day of his wedding. His bride is still waiting for him,” Shamsun Nisa informed the panel.
The family members complained that they were suffering from depression, anxiety and fear. A few mothers said they were losing memories and suffering from heart related diseases.
The panel was told that a number of people had developed kidney problems and asthma during their detention.
Lawyers from tribal areas said it was the US which bombed a religious seminary in Damadola village of the Bajaur Agency hours before a jirga held to reach a peace agreement between militants and the Pakistan Army.
They said the US did not want to see the Pakistan Army at peace with its own citizens and wanted to weaken the country further before attacking Iran.
Journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai suggested that the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) Act should either be completely abolished or amended to provide equal citizenship rights to the people of the tribal areas. “Literacy rate in the tribal areas is just 17 per cent and 60 per cent of the people lives below the poverty line. Without eliminating illiteracy and poverty there could be no change in the areas,” he added.
Mr Yousafzai also narrated the ordeal of journalists being harassed under various acts in the tribal areas, four of whom have lost their lives while performing their duties.
