KARACHI: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Shia missing persons and families of enforced disappearance on Sunday warned countrywide protest from next month if their loved ones were not recovered by the end of the current month.

Speaking at a press conference here at the Karachi Press Club, Allama Mubashir Hassan, Alimdar Haider and Ali Hussain Naveed expressed grave concern over the non-recovery of their loved ones and alleged that the government and state institutions were not serious in their recovery.

They said despite repeated assurances from the authorities the missing persons had not returned to their home or been traced.

“Our concern has heightened due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The recovery of missing persons has put strain on our patience. If our youth are not recovered by the end of this month, the families of the enforced disappearances will protest across the country from April 2,” the JAC warned.

They said they had reached out to every powerful authority, including state institutions, but nothing happened so far.

They said discrimination on the basis of religion or creed was a cruel act and the worst violation of the Constitution and the law. “People who have been picked up from their homes, if involved in any crime, should be brought before the courts as per the Constitution and law. But this is not being done. Despite repeated assurances from the agencies concerned the missing persons are still untraceable.”

The JAC leaders said that more and more people were being secretly rounded up every day. “If the missing persons are guilty, they should be punished according to the law but no one has the power to impose extrajudicial punishment.”

The JAC has announced a nationwide protest on April 2 for the recovery of missing persons.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021