Imagine the sorrow of individuals who have had their loved ones torn away from them, with no way of knowing where they are or whether they are still alive.
Families of those who have gone missing or ‘disappeared’ have been lobbying for years in hopes of finding them, but with little success.
The Islamabad High Court has now asked, while hearing a case involving the disappearance of journalist Mudassar Naro and five other people, how else can such disappearances be explained if it is not the state’s policy to abduct and detain those against whom it may have charges?
The current and former interior ministers should appear in court if missing persons are not found, according to IHC CJ Athar Minallah, who also directed the federal government to serve notices on former president Gen Pervez Musharraf and all subsequent chief executives, including Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif, for giving tacit approval to enforced disappearances. It’s a shame that successive governments have been dragging their feet on such a critical matter, relying on specious justifications or just claiming innocence.
Court adjournments have been utilised in the past to purchase time without having to file a definitive response.
In the context of undeclared tacit acquiescence of a policy that glosses over enforced disappearance, the court is correct in pointing out that such acts are tantamount to constitutional subversion.
It’s important remembering that in his memoir, Gen. Musharraf stated that the state used “enforced disappearances” as a covert tactic. Approving such techniques is a matter of the deepest indignity for a head of government or state, whether elected, selected, or self-appointed.
Many’missing’ people have been found and released, but no one has been held accountable for their disappearance.
The Enforced Disappearances Commission has been accused of whitewashing the issue. Many families of’missing’ people are hesitant to contact the commission because they feel that drawing attention to the issue would simply result in more retaliation. Those who have been picked up, rather than those who have not, are the ones who are targeted by organised efforts.
Pakistan must decide whether or not it will be a country that adheres to the rule of law and follows due process.
There can also be no doubt that it is the state’s responsibility to defend every Pakistani citizen’s life and liberty, and that it has failed to do so. Many of those apprehended are from marginalised groups or are politically engaged students. Minority groups, activists, and the underprivileged have been frightened by their disappearances.
The problem will not be solved if there is a constant lack of plausible responses. These families need to be treated with compassion and to have their complaints heard at the highest level possible.
The Islamabad High Court has now asked, while hearing a case involving the disappearance of journalist Mudassar Naro and five other people, how else can such disappearances be explained if it is not the state’s policy to abduct and detain those against whom it may have charges?
