A number of human rights organisations have come together for a social media campaign demanding the safe release of all missing persons in Pakistan and an end to the practice of enforced disappearances. The campaign will continue for a week starting today (August 8), and each day of the campaign is dedicated to an affected community. Activists and heirs of missing persons will share the stories of the victims and how they were picked up.
The campaign is being run by Defence of Human Rights, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Baloch Voice for Justice, Mutahhida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other human rights organisations.
Activist Amna Masud Janjua, in a video message, said that the struggle for the safe recovery of missing persons has been going on for decades, but the authorities remain unmoved. “This is why we have now decided that all organisations working for missing persons will collectively work for the movement [against enforced disappearances],” she said.
In a recent case of enforced disappearance, a member of Sindh Bar Council, Advocate Aachar Jalbani, was abducted by unknown individuals from Hyderabad on August 2. Pakistan Bar Council issued a statement condemned his disappearance and calling on the authorities to ensure recovery of the lawyer. The council termed the law enforcement agencies’ failure to recover him pointed to their “utter failure in maintaining law and order situation”.
Meanwhile, civil rights group Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) has called for a protest outside the Supreme Court on August 18
