DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS PAKISTAN

Sit-in Against Drone Attacks & Natto Supply LIne, Defence of Human Rights & Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

2011-04-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sit-in-Invitation from Defence of Human Rights & Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PTI

2011-04-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Stop Drone Attacks

2011-04-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Are we subordnates of CIA?

2011-04-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Daily Express News Story

Do Countries Sell & Kill their Own People

2011-04-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.dhrpk.org/

Thankyou Supreme Court Honourable Judges

2011-04-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

Do Countries Sell & Kill their own People?

2011-04-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

ہے جرمِ ضعیفی کی سزا مرگِ مفاجات

2011-03-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

جبری گمشدہ افراد اور ان پر گزرنے والی قیامتیں جیتے جاگتے لوگوں کی وہ نشانیاں ہیں جو کسی ارباب اختیار کے دل میں کوئی کسک تو پیدا نہیں کرتیں ہاں ان کے ماتھے پر بل ضرور لے آتی ہیں۔میری کوتا نظر میں سب سے بڑا گناہ اور جرم اس قوم کا یہ ہے کہ اس نے اپنے ہی مسلمان بہنوں اور بھائیوں کی عزت وآبرو ،دین و ایمان کے سودے کئے۔عزیز بہن ڈاکٹر عافیہ صدیقی سمیت بے شمار دین دار،پڑھے لکھے تعمیری سوچ رکھنے والے شہریوں کو کیڑے مکوڑوں کی طرح پکڑ پکڑ کر امریکہ کے حوالے کیا اور اس پر ڈالر کماتے ہوئے فخر محسوس کیا گیا۔غیروں کے ایماء پر معزز شہریوں کو اغوا و جبری گمشدہ کر کے زیر زمین ٹارچر سیلوں میں گم کر دیا! افسوس صد افسوس :'' ہے جرم ضعیفی کی سزا مرگِ مفاجات!'' اِس کا حل اور کفارہ شاید صرف خونی انقلاب ہی پیش کر سکے...... !!

ان کہے ان دیکھے قیدوبند ،ظلم و جبر،عقوبت خانوں اور جیلوں کی کہانیاں وہ سیلابی ریلے ہیں جو عرصہ دراز سے زیر زمیں بہہ رہے ہیںاور جس کے تدارک اور ازالے کے لئے دنیا کی کوئی طاقت یا تنظیم حرکت میں نہیں آئی۔نہ حکومت نے ریلیف کیمپ لگائے نہ فنڈ قائم ہوا اور نہ ہی کبھی ایمرجنسی احکام جاری ہوئے۔سیلاب کیا آگئے،طوفان نوح آگیا۔پورے پاکستان بے بس حسرت و یاس غم وحزن و ملال کی تصویر بن گیا..... کیوں نہیں کہا تھا انصاف اس سرزمین پر کیوں نہ دیا تھا حق مظلوم کو اب تو اللہ کے عذاب نے اس ملک و ملت کو اچانک آلیا تھا...... سیلاب، جرائم،لاقانونیت ،دہشت گردی ،سیاسی رسہ کشی ،حکومتی نام و نمود اور نفسانفسی کی فضا میں ہمارے زِیر زمین گمشدہ پیاروں کی فریادیں اورچیخیں کس نے سنی ہیں...... !! یہ کوئی نہیں جانتا کہ شاید یہ سب عذاب انہیں پیاروں پرہونے والے ظلم کے نتیجہ میں اللہ پاک نے نازل فرمائے ہیں۔

میں پھر اپنے اوپر ترس کھا رہی ہوں اور آنسو بہا رہی ہوں۔اے اللہ تیری ہی بارگاہ میں شکوہ کرتی ہوں اپنی بے بسی اور مظلومیت کا....... اپنے غم اور مصیبت کا! یااللہ تو رحمان و رحیم ہے،اپنے مظلوم بندوں کے ساتھ ہے،تو ہم پر رحم فرما۔تو ہمارے پیاروں کو پلک جھپکنے میں ہم سے ملا دے،آن واحد میں اُن کو ظالموں کی قید سے چھڑا دے۔ توہم کو پیغمبری آزمائش سے نکال اور اس میں سرخرو فرما۔آمین،ثمہ آمین

Fitna e Dajjal

2011-03-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

The fitna of the anti Christ is at its peak at the moment. The followers of Satan are attacking the civilizations with their full power now. They have been very successful in Europe, but in the Islamic world it was not as successful as they would have expected. Therefore, there has been a planned and organized effort for this cause. That cause is to destroy the concept of family values, and concept of hijab and segregation in the Islamic world. So it’s a big challenge for the Islamic world civilization to block these attacks. Because these values are one of the foundations of Islam and we need to protect them. If they are not protected then I am afraid we won’t be able to survive for long.
To destroy our most important values there are think tanks formed in America, where eminent scholars and researchers sit together and plan how to attack us. Their research and recommendations are published in form of books and articles which is used as guidelines for the governments. Samuel p Huntington has written a book (Clash of Civilizations) where he has made it very clear that “now it will be a clash between our civilization and the Islamic civilization”. In this book he has analyzed that according to Tyne B, there have been 20 civilizations in this world historically. Twelve of them have already died and there are only eight left. One is our western civilization and seven others. Amongst those seven, five of them can easily be assimilated like the Indian civilization. The Indian civilization is very easily assimilated into the western civilization because their culture was closer to the western culture. Same culture of Music and dancing, nudity and exposition was there before and now it has reached at its peak. That’s why there were not many things different. So they got merged into the western culture. There is no clash of civilization between them. But according to him there are two civilizations which are a challenge for them. One is the Islamic civilization and the other Chinese Confucian civilization. But according to him the real threat is the Islamic civilization.
So my dear brothers and sisters, we need to understand and recognize our enemy. They are slow poisoning us with their music and culture of nudity and exposition. They want our women to be like their women. They will keep attacking us until we become like them. They feel that we are a threat for them. It’s time for us to wake up and be who real Muslims are. Let’s get ourselves from namesake Muslims to practicing Mo’mineen. Love your own culture and let go theirs. Eat like a Muslim, sleep like a Muslim, live like a Muslim and die like a Muslim. Be proud of what you are and when you’ll read your history and read how our heroes lived our lives, you’ll forget, these modern days, good for nothing so called heroes.
May Allah bless us and help us understand our way of life and protect us from all these plots which are been created to destroy our values and culture.

16th March - Celebration of Superior Judiciary Restoration

2011-03-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

Wireless Reading Device

WHAT IF RAYMOND DAVIS WAS PAKISTANI AND COUNTRY WAS USA?US Guidelines Support Pakistan Case

2011-02-19T11:09:00.001-08:00

While Washington is putting tons of pressure on Islamabad to let Raymond Davis go under the cover of diplomatic immunity, the latest State Department guidelines on giving such immunity to diplomats of other countries within the US are eye-opening.

“If the US guidelines were followed and had the Davis case happened in any place within the US, Davis would have been treated exactly the same way he is being treated in Pakistan,” an expert who knows immunity procedures in both the countries observed.

The State Department has only recently issued directions to law enforcement and judicial authorities “not to let any criminal go in the garb of diplomatic immunity without police investigation and court order”.

“It is the policy of the US Department of State with respect to alleged criminal violations by persons with immunity from criminal jurisdiction to encourage law enforcement authorities to pursue investigations vigorously, to prepare cases carefully and completely, and to document properly each incident so that charges may be pursued as far as possible in the US judicial system,” Diplomatic and Consular Immunity Guidance for Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities of the State Department, released in September 2010, says.

While Pakistan is being told that Davis had a licence to kill under the disputed immunity that he supposedly enjoys, the State Department guidelines say: “It should be emphasized that even at its highest level, diplomatic immunity does not exempt diplomatic officers from the obligation of conforming with national and local laws and regulations. Diplomatic immunity is not intended to serve as a licence for persons to flout the law and purposely avoid liability for their actions.”

These guidelines go on: “The purpose of these privileges and immunities is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient and effective performance of their official missions on behalf of their governments. This is a crucial point for law enforcement officers to understand in their dealings with foreign diplomatic and consular personnel. While police officers are obliged, under international customary and treaty law, to recognize the immunity of the envoy, they must not ignore or condone the commission of crimes.”

While the US authorities and the murderer himself had admitted that he (Davis) was a member of Lahore Consulate, the US guidelines solve the riddle, for those who are still confused, by saying, “There is a common misunderstanding that consular personnel have diplomatic status and are entitled to diplomatic immunity.”

Regarding the identification of the diplomat, enjoying immunity, the State Department guidelines say, “IT IS CRITICAL FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER to identify quickly and accurately the status of any person asserting immunity. The only authoritative identity document is the identity card issued by the US Department of State’s Office of Protocol...”

The same is the provision in Pakistan where the Foreign Office issues identity card to such diplomats. In case of Davis, it was never issued.

In such cases, the US State Department clearly states: “In all cases, including those in which the individual provides a US Department of State-issued identification card, the law enforcement officer should verify the immunity status with the US Department of State....”

Regarding the waiver of immunity, these guidelines say: “Diplomatic and consular immunity are not intended to benefit the individual; they are intended to benefit the mission of the foreign government or international organization. Thus an individual does not ‘own’ his or her immunity and it may be waived, in whole or in part, by the mission member’s government. The US Department of State will request a waiver of immunity in every case in which the prosecutor advises that he or she would prosecute but for immunity.”

US guidelines support Pakistan case

SOURCE: THE NEWS

Woman fights for missing persons' rights

2011-02-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Former housewife and amateur painter takes campaign to the streets and is garnering legions of supporters

Amina has been on a roller-coaster of hopes raised, hopes dashed and hopes raised again since 2006 when her husband Masood Janjua went missing and the Pakistan Supreme Court took up the issue.

Musharraf-era Minister of Interior Aftab Sherpao had admitted on April 18, 2007, that the government had arrested 4,000 while handed over 2,000 to foreign agencies.

In his biography, General Musharraf admitted receiving money for arresting and handing 689 persons over to other countries. Some of the missing later emerged as far as Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Today, Amina Masood Janjua along with hundreds other families awaits action from the Judicial Commission on Missing Persons, comprising three retired but well-reputed judges Kamal Mansoor Alam, Fazulur Rehman and Nasira Iqbal.

Untill the fateful evening of July 30, 2005, Amina served as a traditional household woman for 16 years. Her prime responsibility was to serve her ageing parents-in-law and raise her three children Mohammad, aged 20, Ali, aged 18, and Aishah, aged 14.

Over the past five years, time has changed her role from an amateur painter and housewife to a campaigner, businesswoman and public figure.

Besides managing the home, Amina not only runs her husband's business but also spearheads campaigns for Pakistanis picked up by the intelligence agencies and police without a charge.

"When leading human rights figures ignored my pleas, I did not wait for their slumber to finish," recalls Amina, who now chairs the Defence of Human Rights.

She brought activism for human rights out of seminar rooms of five-star hotels to the streets and doorsteps of the sacred and the powerful.

This housewife led a sit-in on the main gate of Inter-Service Intelligence but also attempted to literally to knock the doors of Pakistan Army General Headquarters.

The next morning, newspapers embarrassed Musharraf with Amina's elder son, Mohammad, being shoved into a police van without his trousers.

Using Facebook, Twitter and her website, she is surrounded by thousands of loyal activists.

"We are happy to stand for the cause of the weak. Can you imagine every week, five to six citizens are reported to missing under mysterious circumstances," she says.

Alongside journalists, lawyers and students, Amina firmly stood against Musharraf's imposition of November 3 emergency and for restoration of judiciary.

Ever since the independent-minded judges have returned to their chambers with dignity, there has been no respite in the hardships of missing persons families.

While the Supreme Court takes on the Zardari government unequivocal terms for corruption and abuse of power, it simply could not press the intelligence agencies with similar rulings.

"Even if the commission is set up and the SC bench supervises it, without examining the role of the intelligence agencies that are central in this whole issue, it could all end up as an exercise in futility, with the culture of impunity enjoyed by the intelligence agencies intact, alive and kicking," Daily Times newspaper wrote in a recent editorial.

While Amina's struggle and judicial intervention could facilitate the release of 250-odd persons, ironically her very own husband remains in illegal detention.

Interior Minister Rehaman Malek's recent promises are proving false, she says, and the DHR is gearing up for protest campaign yet again.

"Sooner or later, the tyranny and injustice has to end and courage is all that we are left with now," she says in an uncompromising tone.

Courtesy: Gulf News

America to Quit

2011-02-14T20:27:00.001-08:00

We condemn the statement of Fauzia Wahab - She is an American more than Pakistani

2011-02-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

We protest on the statement of Fauzia Wahab who said that Raymond Davis, accused of killing two Pakistanis in Lahore, enjoyed diplomatic immunity.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, Fauzia Wahab said that Pakistan is the signatory of Vienna Convention, therefore, all the diplomats enjoy immunity, adding that diplomats cannot be arrested under this convention.

We believe that Fauzia Wahab is not a Pakistani and rather she is an American agent.

Allama Iqbal Praying for Muslims - We need it in this hard time.

2011-02-13T05:56:00.000-08:00

Suggestions for Systematic hearings of the Missing Persons in the Supreme Court Of Pakistan

2011-02-11T08:07:00.001-08:00

1 There is no doubt about the highest standards of fair and free independent supreme judiciary of Pakistan in order to deliver justice to the aggrieved, maintain Rules of Law and establish supremacy of the constitution in the interest of the nation.

2 .Psychological survey was conducted by Psychology Department of Quaid –E- Azam University ,I which a hundred relatives of missing persons were interviewed and filled up forms. The result of their assessment found out that all are psychologically unfit suffering from anxiety depression and different psychic ailments caused by the agony, pain and mental torture of this traumatic ordeal .The irreparable damage is caused to the psychological, emotional and physical well-being of the family members. What to say about those abducted and lying in underground torture cells in inhuman conditions like our detained missing loved ones. Many examples are there in which those returned from illegal custody were hardly normal. One of such detainee was dumped on a pile of garbage in an unconscious traumatized condition on the day of his release. Saud Memon was once a top garment businessman of Karachi, but within 20 days of his release he expired of brain TB ,Bone and lung TB, meningitis, Hepatitis B, C and mental disorder. He could not recognize his wife and 5 kids, weighing only 18 kg , suffered illegal confinement for 6 years and died in Coma , without uttering a single word ,as to what happened to him.

3 The grief of a separated loved one is so immense and tragic that we hardly realize or mention our financial agonies. However the fact remains that we have survived on loans and through graciousness of our family , friends and supporters . The bread earners are picked and not a single penny is ever offered by the government to meet there daily expenses in sheer devastation . Therefore the government must be pressurized to meet the monthly expenses of all the families of enforced disappearances. The compensation recommended by the commission of enquiry for enforced disappearances must also be approved and delivered to the victim families as it is also a proof of enforced disappearances as well as a penalty regarding the illegal acts of the authorities responsible.

4 Freezing order to be passed by the Supreme Court That no enforced disappearance will happen after a cut-off date, for example 10 Feb 2011 .If done the head of that agency will be called in person to explain in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The relevant Chief will be required to sit during the court proceedings and this illegal act when proven will be considered a contempt of the Honorable Court.

5 U.N charter of enforced disappearance 2006 to be ratified and in forced by the Parliament of Pakistan.

6 As far as the hearing procedure is concerned. Three days a week cases should be heard. One day for chronic cases, second day for crystal clear cases of plenty of evidence, third day for all the rest. They should be dealt on 20 cases per day basis.

7 The government should make Amina Masood Janjua part of their high profile meetings regarding Missing Persons in the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior. This will keep the aggrieved and the Courts in picture as to what level the hectic efforts are being taken by the Government, to trace the Missing Citizens of Pakistan. It will also
ensure the committed dedication of the relevant Quarters.

8 The Supreme Court should order to register FIR against confirmed personal of Agencies or any other authorities nominated in the illegal abductions of the honorable citizens without following the due process of Law. For example; Col Habib Ullah and many others in the case of Masood Janjua, and there are a lot many other cases too in which state functionaries are found involved and have been nominated by name.

9 All the proceedings of the honorable Supreme Court regarding the illegal abductions of Pakistani Nationals by the state functionaries, institutes and forces, (who are otherwise responsible for the safety and security of the valuable citizens) will be discouraging these violations of Human Rights and would be a great pressure in itself in conveying a clear message to the perpetrators of this heinous crime that its high time they have to act in accordance with law. No torture and inhuman acts, illegal abductions, secret detentions ,renditions or unlawful arrests will be tolerated in Pakistan ever.

Thanking the Honorable Supreme Court with utmost confidence and high hopes.

DHR Protest to "SAVE PAKISTAN "and punish the Terrorist Killer Raymond Davis - 9th Feb.2011 ,in front of the Parliament House Islamabad

2011-02-11T03:38:00.000-08:00

A grand protest organized by Defence of Human rights at D chowk Islamabad , at 1500 hours on 9th of February 2011, was a big success as people from all walks of life participated in it. The Government tried to stop or at least delay the event by blocking the main roads leading to Islamabad. Then twice trying
to stop the vehicle of Amina Masood Janjua and her supporters and redirecting them in the opposite direction from the protest point. Till finally the forceful decision was taken and they reached at last.

Like always, DHR assuming its National Responsibility is passionately active in case of 3 innocent Pakistanis killed brutally by Raymond Davis. A brutal murder of these 3 Pakistanis by Raymond Davis in a dramatic way explicit the evil American Intentions towards Pakistan. Defence of Human Rights strictly condemns it and demands from Government of Pakistan to open trial Raymond Davis alongwith 400 personnals encaved in American Embassy. Instead of our beloved Missing and Detained Pakistanis, exemplary punishments must be sentenced to all those Americans including Raymond involved in brutal assassination of innocent Pakistanis as per Law of Pakistan. Number of illegal abductions by intelligence agencies inside Pakistan is on a rise. Although Supreme Court has taken serious notice of it but the respective departments/agencies are still trying to hide the facts. On the other side, Mrs. Shumaila (grieved widow of Martyred Mr. Faheem) committed suicide and expressed her severe grievances on the policies of Pakistani Government in this case. It is infact an incident of Great Sorrow that another daughter of nation committed suicide when she realized that Pakistani Government is trying to give immunity to Raymond Davis.

The Civil society , Students , families of Missing Persons, Political activists and Human Rights organizations came up with a determined resolution to bring to justice the brutal killer of 4 precious Pakistani lives, without allowing him any of the proposed concessions or forced handing over . If the Government tried to take sides with its " US Masters" the brave and honorable people of Pakistan will not tolerate it. They will come out in front of the Parliament House, in large numbers persistently forcing the Government to punish "Terrorist Davis" and the like according to the law of the land.

General retd. Hameed Gul , Admiral retd Fasih Bokhari , Dr. Shereen Mazari , Engineer Nisar Khan, Luqman Qazi and Amina Masood Janjua were the honorable speakers at this ooccasion. All of them stressed on the Government that the US Spy and Blackwater Cammando must be put to justice. The blood and honor of Pakistanis ruthlessly murdered on the 27th of Jan. should be respected above all. The silent helpless protest of Sister Shumaila committing suicide, speaks volumes of the government's failure to do justice in time. She should be the last ever daughter of Pakistan to have felt this much pain and torture which resulted in this downtrodden incident. We stand shoulder to shoulder with aggrieved families of the shuhada and share their pain and sorrow.May the souls of the deceased rest in Jannah . Ameen.

It was again and again reiterated by the speakers that the time has come where every limit of the public patience has been exhausted by the US- Slave-Government and it has to culminate into a revolution , reawakening or uprising no matter what. The aggrieved victims of Enforced Disappeared Pakistanis the Missing, Abducted and the Unlawfully detained stories are now the sores of every second household.On behest of the US our loved-ones (honorable Pakistani citizens) were put in the cages and treated worst than animals in the notorious underground cells , Guantanamo bay and Ba-gram prisons. The innocent and the helpless were humiliated and tortured beyond the protection of all laws of the World.

Amina Masood Janjua appealed to the Chief justice of Pakistan to take suo-motto notice of this National Disgrace and insult and suffering imposed on the whole Nation, by the cruel U.S friendly policies of the Government. She said Chief Justice must summon the CIA chief and ask him about the illegal crimes , atrocities , murders, kidnappings and terroristic activities being conducted by its agents like Raymond Allen Davis for years and years , in Pakistan.

The honorable Chief of the Army Staff was also appealed to use the highly esteemed forces of Pakistan in establishing the honor of Pakistan and in protecting its valuable citizens above all. The role of the forces in the society cannot be denied and its pressure will be more then felt by the enemies of our country. The presence of our heroes like General Gul and Admiral of Navy and their determination to lead the Nation is a landmark of revolution in the air, was highly appreciated and cheered by the crowd.

The highly spirited crowd chanted anti-U.S slogans and waved banners condemning the Anti- Pakistan policies and killings of its honorable citizens. The gathering vowed to take the SAVE PAKISTAN struggle , in its early phase at present, to its climax , committing to reawaken and mobilize the Masses.The day is not far when the brave people of Pakistan will make the "D" chowk the birth place of an Islamic Revolution similar to the Tahrir Square of Cairo. The motivated audience joined hands to build a stronger, progressing , sovereign, Independent and Islamic Pakistan. Insha Allah!!!

Missing Persons and Intelligence Agencies. Is Masood Janjua in Cell # 20 of intelligence agency ISI?

2011-01-28T11:59:00.001-08:00

Missing persons are a major human-rights issue in various countries. One niche of the missing persons saga is Asian nationals who went missing after 9/11, kidnapped by the world’s intelligence agencies. There are hundreds of people who went missing in the last several years from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine, China, Thailand, and Singapore.

Leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr Amir Aziz, picked up on Oct 21 over suspected links with Al Qaeda, was dramatically released in the early hours of Tuesday after being thoroughly investigated by the US FBI and the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
The missing persons issue was again highlighted when Amna Masood Janjua’s husband was picked up by an intelligence agency on July 30, 2005. The brave lady raised her voice against the powerful intelligence agencies and decided to devote herself to the cause of missing persons in Pakistan. She started her own organization for the legal and financial aid of the heirs of the missing persons, called the Defense of Human Rights.
When contacted by this correspondent, she asserted:
I know where my husband is in the illegal confinement of ISI [Pakistani intelligence], and he is in cell No. 20 in sector I-9/3 of Islamabad, where there are the offices and some residential apartments of this intelligence agency.
His detention by the ISI was confirmed by eyewitnesses to his abduction, as well by affidavits of other released detainees. Amna maintained that she wants her husband released at any cost. She commented that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has formed a commission to probe the missing persons issue and also a Joint Investigation Team, but both are powerless to summon the intelligence agencies.
The commission was formed on May 1, 2010, and 203 fresh cases of kidnapping have been reported since then.
In Pakistan the reason behind the sacking of the judiciary by the former dictator and now-exiled President General Pervaiz Musharraf was the same issue of missing persons. The court sought to recover all the missing persons who were illegally abducted by the intelligence agencies. The masses restored the judiciary of Pakistan, and now again the Chief Justice of Pakistan is encountering roadblocks in recovering the missing persons from the custody of the intelligence agencies.
Amna claims that at least 392 people have gone missing in Pakistan who are in the hands of the intelligence agencies. According to her sources, the kidnapped people are being brutally tortured and interrogated by both local intelligence agencies and the U.S. CIA. The sources confirmed that there are several people who are interrogated solely by the CIA.
Claims have also been made that there are covert CIA prisons on ships and on the islands of Indonesia — the most notorious, according to numerous Asian periodicals, being Smarata, where the CIA’s "Most Wanted" are being kept. The purpose of keeping kidnapped persons on ships is apparently to remove them from the territorial boundaries and laws of any specific country.
Internationally, for the last decade, the issue of missing persons has been in the headlines of the world media. There have been hundreds of protests launched by relatives and loved ones of these missing persons, but the international community has done nothing to help these people.
According to the United Nations’ constitution, enforced disappearance and genocide are the two major crimes against humanity; yet despite the organization's vaunted interest in peace and justice in the world, with these particular crimes, the UN’s apathy and uselessness are overwhelming.
On the surface the UN would appear to be concerned with missing persons: It has a Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and it does hold meetings on missing persons. The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances concluded its 92nd session this past November at the United Nations office in Geneva.
The summary of the 92nd session indicates that the UN took the following actions:
During its 92nd session, the Working Group examined 23 reported cases under its urgent action procedure, 284 newly submitted cases of enforced disappearances and information on previously accepted cases concerning the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Georgia, India, Iraq, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
The summary added, “The Working Group also examined allegations submitted by credible sources regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and decided to transmit general allegations to the concerned governments.”
And it stated:
During the 92nd session, the Working Group received delegations from the Governments of Iraq, Japan, Nepal, and Rwanda to exchange views on individual cases and on the issue of enforced disappearance in general. It also met with members of the Committee Against Torture as well as with non-governmental organizations and family members of disappeared persons regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration in their respective countries. Members of the Working Group also held a series of informal bilateral meetings with some States with a view to enhance cooperation.
But despite all these efforts, no progress has been made in the recovery of missing persons, and all of the countries scorn the laws of the United Nations. The Working Group has failed to recover a single person that has been abducted by state intelligence agencies, including those taken by the CIA.
In fact, those seeking the UN’s aid find that the rules and methods of the Working Group are so complicated that it is difficult to even report a missing person case. The United Nations’ actions are a demonstration of doing nothing while looking busy. There is so little sway held by the UN over countries that in some countries people are afraid to even utter the name of these powerful intelligence agencies which have captured their relatives.

Malik Ayub Sumbal is a freelance journalist based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Officials face criminal law trial in missing persons case, hints SC

2011-01-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court said on Thursday it intended to proceed under criminal laws against the officers concerned of police or intelligence agencies charged with picking up people who had not yet been traced. A three-judge SC bench asked the court office to prepare, with the assistance of the attorney general’s office, a list of cases in which relatives of the missing persons accused police or intelligence agencies of involvement in the disappearance of those citizens who still remained untraced.

“This will help the court order an appropriate legal action against the responsible persons or officers under criminal law,” the court said in its order after a lengthy hearing.
The bench comprised Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa
The bench ignored a submission by Interior Secretary Qamaruzzaman about the government’s intention of setting up a tribunal comprising superior court judges to probe the matter of missing persons.
“In our estimation this will not be fruitful, especially in view of the submissions made by the other side that the horrible experience of lifting persons by certain intelligence agencies, with or without the help of police, in the dark hours of the night have not yet abated, rather increased tremendously,” the court observed.
The court noted that Defence of Human Rights chairperson Mrs Amina Masood Janjua, who has been campaigning for the release of detained persons, including her missing husband Masood Janjua, had filed an update suggesting instances of cases which took place even after the submission of a report recently by the Commission of Inquiry on missing persons.
The court ordered that copies of the document be provided to the interior secretary and Defence Secretary Athar Ali. The defence secretary informed the court that a roadmap was being worked out to resolve the problem and meetings would be held with the heads of intelligence agencies to trace the missing people.
The court regretted that nothing new had come before it and the issue was stuck at the point where the court had taken cognisance, barring some efforts which led to the tracing of a few persons allegedly picked up by intelligence agencies.
“It is alarming that despite repeated warnings and observations by this court that law and constitutional guarantees are being flouted flagrantly and consistent exercising of restraint by it from taking direct action against persons or the agencies concerned, the complaints of citizens regarding cases of missing persons have not yet abated, rather increased tremendously. This needs to be checked under the law,” the court order observed.
However, the court praised intelligence agencies for their efforts to curb terrorism and for rendering sacrifices to check elements threatening the survival of the country.
“Their sacrifices have always been supported and commended by all citizens as well as by this court, but we still observe that the Constitution requires that no one was above the law. Besides, it is the right of the near and dear ones of the missing persons to know at least the whereabouts of their beloved,” the court said.
Justice Khosa observed that the court did not want that dangerous people or terrorists should be let loose on society, but opposed treating the agency people differently.
“Here we have no Guantanamo Bay,” he said, adding that credit earned by the agencies for combating terrorism would soon turn into discredit if the disappeared persons were not traced.
“The Constitution should always be supreme,” Justice Khosa said. “When disciplined forces start violating the law, then what to expect of others,” Justice Fayyaz wondered.
The court summoned Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq on Friday for a discussion on demands for making public the report of the commission on missing persons because he had claimed certain portions of the report were confidential.