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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>Balochistan govt claims 2,200 missing persons recovered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452815/balochistan-govt-claims-2200-missing-persons-recovered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452815/balochistan-govt-claims-2200-missing-persons-recovered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jan 24 15:21:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2452815</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Caretaker info minister Jan Achakzai says only 468 people remain missing out of 2,700]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jan Achakzai, the Caretaker Minister of Information for Balochistan, claimed on Wednesday that 2,200 missing persons in the province have been recovered out of the 2,700. However, he did not provide specific details regarding the recoveries.

The minister, during his daily media briefing, said that at present, 468 individuals are reported as missing in Balochistan. &quot;Some elements are exaggerating these statistics to serve their political interests ahead of general elections&quot;, he asserted.

The minister&#39;s statement came after a presentation of data by the Commission on Missing Persons to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

&quot;Under a pre-planned conspiracy, some elements in the country want to propagate against state institutions&quot;, Achakzai added.

The minister asserted the commitment of both provincial and federal governments to ensuring the recovery of missing persons. However, he claimed that militant organisations were exploiting the issue to exert pressure on state institutions and tarnish their image internationally.

In a broader context, Achakzai compared the number of missing persons in various countries, claiming that India has 350,000 missing persons, the US half a million, and the United Kingdom 100,000.

He criticised Dr Mahrang Baloch, a member of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC), accusing her of attempting to go abroad and draw parallels with Malala Yousafzai.

Read also: Bill on missing persons never went missing: Senate

Dr Mahrang Baloch is leading BYC camp in Islamabad as protests for the recovery of Baloch missing persons continue in the federal capital Islamabad.

Last week, Khairpur district police booked Dr Baloch and 300 others in an FIR under charges of sedition allegedly committed during their ongoing protest.

The FIR, registered on the state&#39;s complaint under Section 124-A of Pakistan Penal Code, was lodged at Wadda Machion police station on the complaint of Sub Inspector Sarfaraz Ahmed Khoso.

Khoso claimed that Mahrang and her associates were spreading anti-Pakistan sentiments among the people and they had been inciting youth to rebel against the country.]]>
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			<title>Bill on missing persons never went missing: Senate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452597/bill-on-missing-persons-never-went-missing-senate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452597/bill-on-missing-persons-never-went-missing-senate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jan 24 18:20:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2452597</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shireen Mazari in 2022 alleged bill went missing after it was sent to Senate]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Senate Secretariat on Monday said the bill pertaining to enforced disappearances never went missing and was returned to the National Assembly after being passed by the upper house of parliament.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bills 2021 was passed by the NA on Nov 8, 2021, aiming to make amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. In 2022, the then human rights minister Shireen Mazari had alleged that the bill had gone missing after it was sent to the Senate.

Later, Shireen claimed that she was asked to appear at the Inter-Services Intelligence headquarters over the bill, adding that the bill, after being tabled in the NA, was referred to the interior committee where &ldquo;invisible shadows tried to change the clauses&rdquo;.

During the hearing of a case on enforced disappearances at the Supreme Court on Jan 2, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed surprise over the disappearance of the bill from the Senate.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Senate Secretariat, while referring to the top court&rsquo;s Jan 2 hearing, said a reference was made to the bill &ldquo;which originated in the National Assembly but presumably vanished when it was transmitted to the Senate&rdquo;.

Read also:&nbsp;SC seeks lasting fix for missing persons&rsquo; issue

&ldquo;Moreover, it was claimed that the efforts of the federal minister to get the said bill passed were thwarted by the Senate chairman. However, the Supreme Court rightly noted that it would not be appropriate to attend to the above allegations made against the Senate chairman.

&ldquo;Still, a false impression was created in the media that the bill actually went missing and the Senate chairman or Senate Secretariat had a role in it,&rdquo; it noted.

The Senate Secretariat said, &ldquo;The preposterous of the bill vanishing or alleged interference by the chairman was contradicted by factual details.&rdquo; It stated that the said bill was introduced by the then interior minister in the NA on Jan 7, 2021.

It said the bill was passed by the NA on Nov 8, 2021 and as per constitutional and rules requirements, was sent to the Senate on Nov 10, 2021.

Read:&nbsp;SC wants missing persons&rsquo; report

The bill was tabled in the Senate on July 29, 2022, the secretariat stated, adding that it was the prerogative of the government to decide the timing of the tabling of a bill in the house by placing it on the proposal for the orders of the day provided by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. &ldquo;The Senate is not mandated to bring a government bill on the agenda on its own,&rdquo; it said.

&ldquo;After tabling in the house, the bill was referred to the standing committee for consideration and report,&rdquo; the Senate Secretariat said. The bill was passed by the Senate on Oct 20, 2022, with some amendments, it added.

&ldquo;Accordingly, in pursuance of clause (2) of Article 70 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the Bill was returned to the originating House, ie the National Assembly of Pakistan on October 20, 2022.&rdquo;

It concluded that the factual position &ldquo;enunciates that the subject bill was never missing, is not pending in the Senate Secretariat, rather has been returned to the National Assembly after passage in the Senate, as required by the Constitution and rules of the Senate&rdquo;.]]>
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			<title>Govt to form body on ‘missing people’: minister</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448099/govt-to-form-body-on-missing-people-minister</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2448099/govt-to-form-body-on-missing-people-minister#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Nov 23 19:39:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2448099</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[IHC recently summoned caretaker PM if he didn’t ensure recovery of ‘disappeared’ Baloch students]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Interim Human Rights Minister Khalil George has claimed that a government committee was on the cards to look into the matter of missing people.

Recently, the Islamabad High Court summoned interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Nov 29 if he did not take steps for the recovery of 55 alleged missing Baloch students.

SC&rsquo;s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani noted that it was not a case of a single person but 55 students were missing and that was the reason the matter was referred to the interim prime minister.

&quot;The [interim] prime minister [Kakar] and the [caretaker] interior minister [Sarfraz Bugti] hail from Balochistan. They should have felt that this issue concerns Baloch students. Should we send this issue to the United Nations? Should we humiliate our own country?&quot; the Justice Kayani asked.

He added that the court anticipated that the interim PM would acknowledge that the missing students were the country&rsquo;s children, but that did not happen.

The Sindh High Court also indicated that it would summon Kakar if the police and the provincial administration were unable to make any progress in recovering the missing persons.

&ldquo;The [caretaker] prime minister is planning [to form] a committee on missing persons with the [interim] interior minister and other ministers so the issue can be completely analysed,&rdquo; George told a private TV news channel in an interview.

&ldquo;Like where are the missing persons, how many there are, and what is their status,&rdquo; he added.

The caretaker human rights minister said the finer details about the finalisation of the body were under way.

Read also:&nbsp;PM summoned in missing persons case

However, he added that the government believed the number of missing people was not as high as some claimed.

George maintained that the government was &ldquo;thoroughly&rdquo; looking into the issue and the committee would probe into the details of those who were missing.

He continued that the committee&rsquo;s terms of reference (TORs) had not been drafted yet.

&ldquo;Its (committee&rsquo;s) mandate would be determined when this is done,&rdquo; he added.

When asked if the body would actually be able to solve the issue of missing people, the caretaker minister replied that every committee formed &ldquo;tried its best to discharge its responsibility&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Obviously, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s laws, a citizen is the responsibility of the state and the state is well aware of this. Let&rsquo;s see what the committee does. I have complete trust in the committee that it will do its job,&rdquo; he added.

On Saturday night, interim PM Kakar spoke on the matter of the missing Baloch students. The caretaker premier said he would not be appearing before the IHC because of other commitments and the government would offer representation at the appropriate forum when possible.

He claimed that the state had no hand in these disappearances.

&ldquo;Most of the times, the security forces pick up the people who are involved in activities which are against the law,&rdquo; he said.]]>
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			<title>Mother wails outside court for ‘missing’ son</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2400566/mother-wails-outside-court-for-missing-son</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2400566/mother-wails-outside-court-for-missing-son#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 23 21:17:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Karachi]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2400566</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Claims Furqan was whisked away from work by men in uniform in 2015]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The mother of a missing person broke down outside the Sindh High Court on Friday, as the provincial court continues to hear cases pertaining to missing persons.

The woman said that she had been coming to the court for the last eight years but there was no trace of her son, Muhammad Furqan, an employee at the Karachi Port Trust. 

She claimed that Furqan was whisked away from work by men in uniform in 2015. Despite assurances of the NHRC and formation of joint investigation team (JIT), Furqan remains missing, she said.

&ldquo;If he is alive, show me his face. If he is dead, then had over his remains,&rdquo; she said while crying uncontrollably.

Keamari deaths

Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh issued on Friday a written order on petitions regarding deaths, allegedly due to toxic fumes, in Keamari&rsquo;s Ali Muhammad Goth while directing the Sindh police chief to ensure a transparent investigation.

In the written order, the court observed that its questions weren&rsquo;t answered satisfactorily. 

The Kaemari deputy commissioner said no one was killed except family members of Khadim Hussain. The written order noted that there was a contradiction in the statements of Kemari DC and the Sindh police chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2023.]]>
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			<title>Enforced disappearances: ‘State liable to pay diyat if killer unidentified’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/826031/enforced-disappearances-state-liable-to-pay-diyat-if-killer-unidentified</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/826031/enforced-disappearances-state-liable-to-pay-diyat-if-killer-unidentified#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 15 22:01:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=826031</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PHC CJ Miankhel instructs government to submit death, oversight board and compliance reports.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel on Thursday said the state is liable to pay diyat (blood money) to the legal heirs of the deceased when the murderer is unidentified.


The chief justice and Justice Roohul Amin Khan were hearing petitions filed by families whose loved ones had gone missing but their bodies were later recovered from various internment centres. Deputy Attorney General Manzoor Khalil and Additional Advocate General Mujahid Ali Khan represented the federal and provincial governments, respectively.

Whisked away

When the bench took up the cases for legal proceedings, it was informed that several members of Haji Naik Badshah’s family went missing in 2012 from Orakzai Agency. Later, bodies of three relatives, Barkat Shah, Bakhtawar Shah and Tahir Shah, were handed over to the family. Meanwhile, Sahib Shah, Nasib Shah and Bilal Shah were added to the grey category and are currently detained at Kohat internment centre. The whereabouts of Turab Shah, Ajmal Shah, Faqir Shah, Amjid Shah and Khan Amir are still unknown. The court then ordered the provincial and federal governments to provide records of the said people.

Lost identity

The court was also informed about another previously missing person, Mir Zali Khan, whose body was handed over to his family on September 4, 2014 in Kohat. The family told the bench they have not received Khan’s death certificate despite several months going by and the government has refused to issue NICs to his children.

The additional advocate general told the court a meeting of the oversight board of the relevant internment centre has been convened and the matter will be taken up. The bench then ordered the government to provide the death certificate within a week and submit a compliance report before the court.

Medical grounds

The case of Amanat Khan and Khalid Khan was also brought to light when the bench was told the Hepatitis C patients are currently detained in Landikotal, Khyber Agency and are provided with inadequate health facilities. The bench noted under the Actions (in aid of civil power) Regulation 2011, the government is bound to provide sufficient medical facilities to all detainees held in different internment centres.

Moreover, the court was informed about another family of missing persons. Anwaruddin’s body was handed over to his family while his relatives Ghaffaruddin and Afsaruddin are still detained in Kohat. The court ordered the government produce the report stating Anwaruddin’s cause of death and oversight board reports of the two other detainees.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2015.]]>
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			<title>Year in review: Over 1,990 previously missing persons traced in 2014</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/816237/year-in-review-over-1990-previously-missing-persons-traced-in-2014</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/816237/year-in-review-over-1990-previously-missing-persons-traced-in-2014#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 15 00:33:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[noorwali.shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=816237</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petitions were heard separately at least thrice a week]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In 2014, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) devoted time and resources on hearing cases which have remained pending. Notably, the court gave special emphasis to petitions on enforced disappearances and heard these cases at least thrice a week.


When Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel took oath as the new chief justice on April 8, 2014 after the retirement of Mian Fasihul Mulk, the former decided to hear all pending enforced disappearance cases separately so as to provide justice and relief to the families of previously missing persons.



The government had already promulgated the Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation, 2011 whereby miscreants could be interned for the duration of action taken in aid of civil power. Under the regulation, interned miscreants would be allowed access to proper health facilities and have the right to meet their families.

Yet, it was through the PHC’s orders and notices that the administrations of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) were forced to inform the court about the whereabouts of people who went missing several years ago.

Order in the court

The chief justice’s courtroom provided a beacon of hope for hundreds of families who wanted to know the whereabouts of the previously missing persons.

From the outset, CJ Miankhel had urged the federal and provincial governments to release those who have been languishing in internment centres for years without any charges.

According to a report submitted in court on May 29 last year, 708 people were traced in centres in K-P and Fata. Another report submitted in court on June 24 added 130 more names to the total number of detainees.



On September 4, a third report identified 96 other detainees whereas fourth reports submitted on September 11 traced 42 others.

A fourth report submitted in court on October 23 revealed that the government had traced some 80 more previously missing persons detained in other internment centres.

Similarly, the fifth report submitted on October 29 identified the whereabouts of 936 detainees. Five of them were released while others withdrew their cases.

These reports indicate that 1,992 previously missing persons were traced in 2014.

According to the government, 20 previously missing persons wanted in various criminal cases had been handed over to police and political administrations.

Amid challenges

A few months ago, the high court introduced a series of changes in the procedure of hearing these petitions. All cases were referred to the additional registrar to issue notices to all respondents. Once this process was completed, the date for the final hearing would be set.

The high court also took severe action in cases where bodies of detainees were handed over to the families. It issued orders to the government saying it was unacceptable to hand over the bodies of previously missing persons to families without at least conducting a post-mortem.

These directions and orders compelled the government to submit oversight board reports on the detainees. However, once it set the ball rolling, a large number of reports on the connection between detainees and militant organisations began to surface. Earlier, the high court had disposed of petitions after it was informed that the detainees had strong ties with militant organisations and were involved in subversive activities.

On December 9, a high court bench was informed that six more previously missing persons who are currently detained have close relations with anti-state elements and have been placed in the black category.

Others detained and placed in the black category included Alam Khan in Bajaur Agency, Usman Ali, Afradzar Shah, Zamin Shah, Akbar Shah and Muhammad Bilal. Two other detainees, Shah Khan and Khan Sahib, were placed in the grey category and detained on suspicious charges. However, all these petitions were disposed of.

Section 14 of the 2011 Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation states that the governor shall notify a four-member oversight board established at each internment centre. A board comprising two civilians and two military officials is also required to review the case of each person interned within a period of 120 days after the order of internment is issued. Furthermore, the board is also expected to prepare a report for the governor’s consideration.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: Rights body petitions SC to probe deaths of over 100 internment centre prisoners</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/786189/missing-persons-rights-body-petitions-sc-to-probe-deaths-of-over-100-internment-centre-prisoners</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/786189/missing-persons-rights-body-petitions-sc-to-probe-deaths-of-over-100-internment-centre-prisoners#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 14 15:32:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=786189</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Janjua wants SC to form a commission to probe the issue, ask Commandants of 11 Corps Peshawar to release innocents]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Defence of Human Rights chairperson on Wednesday requested the Supreme Court to form a powerful commission to look into the mysterious deaths of 101 prisoners detained in internment centres.

Submitting a list of these 101 missing prisoners, Amina Masood Janjua on Wednesday moved an application in the missing persons case for a commission to visit the listed interment centres and submit a fact finding report on the conditions prevailing at those centres.

The petitioner is representing hundreds of missing persons families in the apex court for last eight years. Janjua claimed that through her investigations, she had compiled a list of 101 missing persons, who were held in internment centres, and died under mysterious circumstances. These internment centres are working under Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation 2011.

“The death of missing prisoners is a relatively new issue and stands distinct from the tortured, bullet ridden dead bodies of missing persons dumped at different places, often in body bags”

Of the list of 101 prisoners, Janjua chose to disclose information about three such prisoners Gul Faqir, Hafiz Muhammad Jamil and Hammad Amir in her petition.

The DHR chairperson stated that she had also moved an application last year regarding worrisome conditions of prisoners. In her earlier plea, she also requested the court to direct K-P Governor as well as Commandants of 11 Corps Peshawar to make arrangements for meetings between detainees and their families.

Janjua further pleaded that Commandants of 11 Corps Peshawar be asked to release all those innocent within one month, adding that in similar case of the Adyala 11, the lives of seven people were saved.]]>
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			<title>SHC asks interior secretary to submit judicial commission report this month</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/773595/shc-asks-interior-secretary-to-submit-judicial-commission-report-this-month</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/773595/shc-asks-interior-secretary-to-submit-judicial-commission-report-this-month#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 14 20:47:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=773595</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shamim Khalid's wife said he was picked up by law enforcers on July 5, 2011]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the interior secretary to submit a report of the judicial commission constituted by the federal government to investigate the missing persons' cases.


Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who headed the bench, also instructed the secretary to depute a senior officer, who will submit the report in court on October 30.

The direction came on a petition seeking whereabouts of a Karachi Water and Sewerage Board accountant, Shamim Khalid, who is missing. Khalid is said to be involved in the high-profile murder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Dr Imran Farooq in London in 2010.

Three months after the high-profile murder, Beena Khalid, a resident of Karachi, went to court claiming her husband, Shamim Khalid, had been allegedly detained by the law enforcers. According to her, Khalid went to withdraw money from an ATM at Malir Halt, when law enforcers allegedly took him away in two cars bearing official registration number plates on June 5, 2011.

During the course of hearings, police officials disclosed that Khalid was wanted in connection with the MQM leader's murder.

Task force

On Thursday, advocate Faisal Siddiqui, who is assisting the court as Amicus Curiae, said that the federal government had formed a special task force to deal with the missing persons' cases and added that a tribunal had also been constituted. He suggested that the task force may be asked to submit its suggestions and recommendations in this regard.

Joint investigation team

DSP Abdul Majeed Abbasi said a third joint investigation team (JIT) had been constituted to decide the case regarding the disappearance of the petitioner's husband. He sought time to submit report of the JIT. Abbasi added that information had also been obtained from local reporters, who had filed reports about the alleged arrest of the missing person from Jinnah International Airport premises.

The officer said a reporter, Agha Khalid, claimed that he had received information about Shamim Khalid's arrest from a source at the KWSB but he could not disclose any names. Another reporter, whom the officer did not name, said he had received information about the arrest from news published in the London Daily Post on August 27, 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing matters: Interior secy ordered to disclose whereabouts of missing person</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/745750/missing-matters-interior-secy-ordered-to-disclose-whereabouts-of-missing-person</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/745750/missing-matters-interior-secy-ordered-to-disclose-whereabouts-of-missing-person#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 14 22:16:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=745750</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[SHC approached by the brother of a missing person.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The interior secretary has been directed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to either personally appear before the court or depute an officer to explain the whereabouts of a man missing since 2011.


The missing person, Azhar Iqbal, was allegedly detained at the army’s internment centre in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The SHC bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, gave the interior secretary time till August 20 to appear or send his subordinates with a progress report.

Muhammad Zia Iqbal had taken the federal interior secretary and defence secretaries, the provincial home secretary and the provincial police officer to the court over alleged unlawful detention of his brother, Azhar.

In his petition, Zia had submitted that his brother had shifted to Karachi from his hometown in Sukkur for his business and had settled in the Gulzar-e-Hyderi neighbourhood.

In the early hours of May 8, 2011, some personnel belonging to the law enforcement agencies took Azhar away from home while his wife and children were visiting their hometown. The petitioner had pleaded to the court to order the respondent ministries and departments to disclose the detainee’s whereabouts and produce him in the court.

On April 22, the judges had directed the deputy attorney general (DAG) to ask the interior secretary verify whether or not the petitioner’s brother was detained at the Lucky Marwat Internment Centre in K-P.

During Wednesday’s hearing, DAG Azizullah Buriro said he had written letters to the federal interior secretary and the K-P home secretary but has yet to receive their reply.

This visibly irked the two judges. “In the circumstances, let the notice be issued to the Secretary Interior Ministry, Government of Pakistan, for August 20 when he shall appear himself or depute any of his subordinates well acquainted with the facts of the case and affairs of the Lucky Marwat Internment Centre, K-P,” ordered Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, who was heading the bench.

The bench further ordered the interior secretary or his subordinate to submit a detailed report regarding the compliance of the court’s previous order.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Baloch missing men: With kin missing, Eid a joyless affair</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/742795/baloch-missing-men-with-kin-missing-eid-a-joyless-affair</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/742795/baloch-missing-men-with-kin-missing-eid-a-joyless-affair#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Aug 14 04:30:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=742795</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Women, children hold demonstration outside press club after Eid prayers]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The relatives of missing persons marked the ninth consecutive Eid with a protest in Quetta to demand immediate and safe recovery of their family members who have been missing from different parts of Balochistan.


Several women, carrying placards and portraits of their loved ones, gathered outside the Quetta Press Club soon after Eid prayers.

The protesters held demonstrations outside the Balochistan High Court. Women and children participated in the rally and chanted slogans accusing security agencies of whisking away their loved ones and detaining them in illegal torture cells.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBMP), an organisation working towards the safe recovery of missing persons, said two more Baloch political activists were reported missing from Kohlu.

“My brother Zakir Majeed went missing five years ago near Quetta. We know security agencies are behind this illegal abduction because my brother was a senior leader of Baloch Student Organisation (BSO-Azad),” general secretary of VFBMP and human rights activist based in Balochistan Farzana Majeed told The Express Tribune.

VFBMP demands that if the abducted Baloch political leader has committed a crime, he should be taken to court, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: Govt, VFBMP unable to agree on number</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/739605/missing-persons-govt-vfbmp-unable-to-agree-on-number</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/739605/missing-persons-govt-vfbmp-unable-to-agree-on-number#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 14 04:27:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shezad Baloch]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=739605</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Advocacy group claims nearly 2,000 killed and dumped across Balochistan.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While the search for Balochistan’s missing persons continues, their cases are complicated by the discrepancies between the records of those involved.


The home department, for instance, said in a recent report that 71 people are missing in the province, while human rights organisations estimate that the figure is closer to 8,000. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBMP) advocacy group insists that more than 19,000 Baloch political activists and sympathisers have been subjected to enforced disappearances over the last 13 years. For his part, Akbar Durrani, the provincial home secretary, has reiterated the government’s resolve to finding the missing persons. Monthly reports are submitted to the Supreme Court, according to him.

VFBMP vice president Mama Qadir says his organisation has submitted a detailed report to the United Nations with evidence regarding missing persons. “There are more than 19,000 people who were subjected to enforced disappearance in Balochistan and none of them have been recovered yet,” he told The Express Tribune. “The government has done nothing, except to release those who were detained for a brief period.”

The home department has stated that 135 cases of missing persons have been registered in the province and the provincial government has received the details of 194 people claimed to be missing. “Human rights organisations have claimed that there are 8,000 people missing and they hold secret agencies responsible for these enforced disappearances,” a routine departmental report stated. “The rights groups were asked to submit evidence in court but they provided only 989 names.”

The department has set up a special cell on the directives of the interior ministry and the cell has published these 989 names in various newspapers, requesting the relatives of these missing persons to submit further details.

Only 194 applicants came forward with additional data. “There is a committee looking into the cases and it is doing its job,” Home Secretary Akbar Durrani insisted, adding that those agencies blamed for the disappearances have also been represented in the committee. “The special cell is set up to collect information. The cases are also with the Supreme Court,” he said.

A special task force was also set up by the interior ministry last year, mandated to formulate a national policy on the missing people, monitor the progress and coordinate efforts of all the stakeholders working on the issue.

The force included officers from the agencies, home secretaries of the four provinces, the additional attorney general, a member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, additional inspectors-general of special branches of the four provinces and additional chief secretaries. The task force has met 31 times since July 2013.

The interior ministry also formed three special commissions headed by DIG Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sharif Werak, Justice Retired Fazalur Rehman and Justice retired Javed Iqbal and Iqbal continues to head a commission regarding the missing persons’ cases. The government claims that 80 missing persons of 194 were recovered and the commission dismissed 43 cases after declaring that these cases do not fulfill the criteria of ‘missing persons’. The commission is currently probing 71 cases.

The Home Department says 135 cases are currently registered, 64 of which are with the Supreme Court.

Bodies recovered

As many as 612 dead bodies have been recovered from across Balochistan from 2010-2013, according to the Home Department. 373 of these cases were identified as Baloch, 95 Pashtun, 71 un-identifiable and 73 belonging to women, children, members of the Hazara community, those of Punjabi ethnicity and Afghan nationals. All these bodies were found dumped in isolated spaces in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mekran, Naseerabad, Sibi and Zhob. The VFBMP contests this information, saying the number of recovered bodies is higher than that declared by the provincial government. “We have evidence that more than 2,000 people were killed in illegal detention cells and their bodies dumped in places across Balochistan,” says Mama Qadir.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Govt apathy: Family of missing Baloch youth seeks justice</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/737204/govt-apathy-family-of-missing-baloch-youth-seeks-justice</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/737204/govt-apathy-family-of-missing-baloch-youth-seeks-justice#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 14 05:41:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=737204</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[BSO-Azad leader Zahid Baloch was kidnapped from Quetta allegedly by security agencies three months back.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[On a drenched carpet outside the National Press Club, three-year-old Qambar sat comfortably on Zerjan Balochi’s lap, swirling his plastic spoon in melted ice-cream. He remains aloof about his surroundings and his future. The smile on his face fades away as he witnesses his mother crying.


For the past ten days, Zerjan has been camping outside the National Press Club Islamabad along with her son and three cousins with framed photographs of Zahid Baloch--- Zerjan’s husband and secretary general of the Balochistan Student Organization (Azaad), who reportedly went missing from the Satellite Town in Quetta three months ago.

Having traveled for hours by public transport, they finally land in the capital to register their protest against the enforced disappearance of Zahid allegedly by security agencies.

At night after the kidnapping, Zerjan received a phone call informing her that her husband was picked up. Since then, she has been struggling to seek justice from the government and the judiciary for her husband.

“My five-year-old son is at home in Quetta with my parents. He cries each time, whenever he sees his father’s pictures,” Zerjan said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Zerjan said their protests in Quetta and Karachi failed to attract government’s support to her case, which brought her to the capital to make an appeal to the Supreme Court and the international community to help her find her missing husband.

Zahid is one of hundreds of Baloch who have allegedly been picked up by the security agencies.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Baloch Human Rights Organisation Chairperson Bibi Gul said that while compiling reports from across the province, it transpired that in almost every month a person disappears, and hundreds of tortured and mutilated bodies were found in the province.

Gul said that for the past four to five years, frequent incidents of operations have led to more people migrating out of the province for a secure life.

“Even schools are not safe. Children are growing up in a terrorised atmosphere. People are affected psychologically as more people are now victims of fear and depression,” she added.

Awami Workers Party General Secretary Shahak Suleymani said that the government has miserably failed to address the missing persons’ issue in Balochistan. He said that while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke about the issue in 2012, no practical steps have been taken by his government to resolve the issue. Zahid’s cousin Banardi, who was also accompanying Zerjan, said that their trip to the capital has been disappointing.

“I see cars belonging to international aid agency officials zipping by the press club. No one ever stopped to ask why we are here, let alone address our plea,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Enforced disappearances: Release ‘missing persons’ who have not been charged, says PHC CJ</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/727551/enforced-disappearances-release-missing-persons-who-have-not-been-charged-says-phc-cj</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/727551/enforced-disappearances-release-missing-persons-who-have-not-been-charged-says-phc-cj#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 14 05:15:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=727551</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says officials might need to submit records on the basis of which they deny having custody.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While hearing 51 petitions of enforced disappearances, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Mazhar Alam Miankhel said the government needs to press charges against ‘missing’ persons involved in criminal activities.

Those who have not been charged should be released, he stated.

The bench comprising CJ Miankhel and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain was informed by Payo Jana that her son, Muhammad Tahir, was picked up by army personnel some two years ago and his whereabouts have been unknown since.



Home and Tribal Affairs Department Special Secretary Syed Alamgir Shah and Deputy Secretary Usman Zaman, Deputy Attorney General Manzoor Khalil, Additional Advocate General Waqar Ahmad Khan and Wing Commander Muhammad Irfan from the Ministry of Interior appeared for the hearing.

“We cannot face these families anymore,” said the CJ. “We are getting the same replies from officials at every hearing. In future, they may need to submit those records on the basis of which they claim the missing person is not in their custody.”

The bench was informed by Advocate Abdul Fayaz that the home department has sent a letter to DSP Shah Nawaz, suggesting he limit his movements for security purposes, and so he would not be able to appear at court for the case of Fazal Amin.

The bench responded by saying the DSP should record his statement before a judicial magistrate.

The court also directed the home department and Ministry of Defence to submit their separate reports regarding the disappearance of Feroz Shah, who was arrested after an attack on former president Pervez Musharraf.

Similarly, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for eight jirga members from Swat district, who allegedly handed over Amir Khatam of Matta to army officials.

The eight members include Muhammad Naeem, Shereen Swati, Khurshid Khan, Muhammad Iqbal, Attaullah, Abdullah, Khirat Muhammad and Sahil Muhammad.

The bench ordered them to be produced in court on September 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons’ cases: SC probes legal lacunae in trial of serving military officers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/726611/missing-persons-cases-sc-probes-legal-lacunae-in-trial-of-serving-military-officers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/726611/missing-persons-cases-sc-probes-legal-lacunae-in-trial-of-serving-military-officers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 14 04:11:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=726611</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Top court questions whether courts can transfer case to army.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk, has issued notices to all senior provincial law officers to decide on the legal lacunae pertaining to the trial of serving military officers for their alleged role in orchestrating enforced disappearances.


On May 15, the two-judge bench, headed by Justice S Khawaja, hearing a suo motu case regarding the disappearance of 35 missing persons had recommended that the case be heard before a larger bench. The bench made this recommendation to ensure uniform consideration over questions related to the trial of the military officials.

In view of the bench’s recommendation, the chief justice constituted a five-member larger bench, headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk. All the five judges are in line to become the chief justice of Pakistan. They are Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa

During the hearing on Tuesday, Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt recommended the larger bench issue notices to all advocates general. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja agreed with the suggestion.

Meanwhile, Additional Advocate General K-P Zahid Quraishi told the bench that AG K-P Latif Yousufzai is in South Africa to attend a conference; therefore, he requested the bench to adjourn the hearing.

The bench while issuing notices to the advocates general adjourned the hearing for the second week of July. More than 50 missing persons’ cases are also fixed along with this matter before the larger bench.

On the request of military authorities on March 25, the provincial administration decided to close the case against members of the armed forces. Subsequently, the matter was referred to military authorities for further investigation and a trial under the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, on March 21, the defence minister lodged an FIR, under Section 346, against those army officials with regards to the removal of 35 undeclared inmates from a prison facility in Malakand. Later, the SC on May 15 formulated legal questions about the trial of the army officials and asked the attorney general of Pakistan and the advocate general of K-P to assist it in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons case: Legal points raised on trial of servicemen</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/718183/missing-persons-case-legal-points-raised-on-trial-of-servicemen</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/718183/missing-persons-case-legal-points-raised-on-trial-of-servicemen#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 14 05:16:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=718183</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[SC proposes larger bench to decide on legal lacunas pertaining to trial of army men.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A two-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) has recommended formation of a larger bench to decide on the legal lacunas pertaining to the trial of serving military officers, for their alleged role in orchestrating enforced disappearances.


The apex court’s bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja was hearing a suo motu case regarding the alleged disappearance of 35 missing persons from an internment centre in Malakand.

“In order to ensure the uniform consideration over questions related to the trial of military officials, it may be appropriate that this case be heard before a larger bench,” the court observed.

In March, the defence minister lodged an FIR against army officials in a case involving illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from a prison facility in Malakand.

The provincial administration decided to close the case against members of the armed forces– including Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig. Subsequently, the matter was referred to military authorities for further investigation and a trial under the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

During the hearing, the judges raised four legal questions about the trial of officials and asked the AGP and Advocate General K-P to assist the court during the proceedings.

The bench questioned as to how to deal with serving members of the army when accused of an offence under Pakistan Penal Code.

Similarly, the top court also sought clarity over whether the ordinary criminal courts are obliged to accede to the request made by the military authorities or is it within the discretion of the ordinary courts to determine whether or not to allow the request of the military authorities for transfer of the case to them.

Additionally, the SC raised questions over the ordinary forum’s authority to exercise discretion in the matter of a request received from the army authorities, should such requests be considered?

AGP Salman Aslam Butt submitted classified reports on behalf of defence ministry. After going through the documents Justice Khawaja said that, “All state institutions are sacrificing for the country. We should attempt to resolve the problems of people.”

At the outset of the hearing, AGP requested the bench to allow in-camera hearing. However, the bench declined the request, saying that everything would be done in the open court from now onwards.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: Balochistan CM asks Lateef Johar to end strike</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/715125/missing-persons-balochistan-cm-asks-lateef-johar-to-end-strike</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/715125/missing-persons-balochistan-cm-asks-lateef-johar-to-end-strike#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 14 04:49:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rabia.ali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=715125</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The student activist refused to give in, demanding to know who has detained Zahid Baloch.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In the scorching heat outside Karachi Press Club, the Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, sat next to a pale Lateef Johar and asked him to give up the hunger strike. “I have come to meet you and appeal to you to end your hunger strike,” he said to Johar. The chief minister had come to Karachi to especially meet Johar on Wednesday.

The student activist who has been on hunger strike for the past 38 days, however, refused to give in. In a low voice, he replied, “Tell me the name of the agency that has detained Zahid Baloch. When those who have him admit he is in their custody, I will end my strike.”

The chief minister became silent and helplessly looked at the crowd of journalists and activists who pressed him to blame the law enforcers for his abduction, and to let everyone know when he would be recovered.

But the official parried all these questions. “I can’t make promises that can’t be fulfilled,” he lamented. “But I wish to resolve the missing persons’ issue and hope Zahid Baloch will be found soon.”

Zahid Baloch, the chairperson of the Baloch Student Organisation (BSO) - Azad was allegedly picked up by law enforcers from Quetta on March 18.

“The Balochistan High Court has given orders for the registration of the FIR, but it has not been registered yet,” said an activist, Kareema Baloch. The chief minister said that he would look into it.

Dr Abdul Malik said that he knew Zahid Baloch very closely. “I have worked with him. Though we had our political differences, I knew him.” The chief minister said that he had been a member of the BSO and the organisation had played a major role in his election as the CM. When journalists asked him what he had done for the missing persons in Balochistan, he said, “You know all the problems Balochistan is facing.  Zahid’s abduction is not in my information, but being the chief minister, I am responsible,” he admitted.

Turning towards Johar, he said that though the latter had the democratic right to protest, he wanted the hunger strike to end. Johar was, however, adamant to continue until Zahid’s whereabouts were known. “People have assured us several times but there have been no results,” he said.

Dr Abdul Malik Balock signed a petition regarding Zahid’s abduction that would be submitted to the United Nations. Meanwhile, Johar’s doctor also addressed the chief minister. “His blood pressure is low and his sugar level is dropping,” he said, referring to the medical complications.
Since the hunger strike started, Johar’s weight has dropped from 76kg to 54kg. “He gets a lot of headaches. He used to be a gentle speaker but now he doesn’t talk to anyone.  He cannot drink a lot of water as he throws up.” said an activist. Other activists vowed to continue the struggle until their leader was found.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Numbers in missing persons case paint gloomy picture</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/713284/numbers-in-missing-persons-case-paint-gloomy-picture</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/713284/numbers-in-missing-persons-case-paint-gloomy-picture#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 May 14 10:32:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shezad Baloch]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=713284</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt says only 71 people are missing while human rights organisations claim 8,000 people have been abducted.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Despite the government’s repeated promises to recover the missing Baloch people and bring the human rights violations in the restive province to an end, little progress has been made. 

Political observers believe that addressing the issue can help create an environment conducive to holding negotiations with the Baloch nationalists who have taken up arms.

However, the government, human rights organisation and advocacy groups have failed to even agree on the number of people missing in the province.

According to a report by Balochistan Home Department, human rights organisations had claimed that the secret agencies were behind the abduction of 8,000 people but when asked by court to submit details, they only provided names of 989 people.

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/mariamessa_1401103877?src=web" height="246"]

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/missing-persons-9" height="517"]

On the directives of the interior ministry, Balochistan Home Department set up a special cell to deal with missing persons’ issue.

The cell had published the names provided by human rights organisation in various newspapers and requested their relatives to submit complete details. However, the cell received merely 194 applications.

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/mariamessa_1401103992" height="255"]

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/mariamessa_1401103593?src=web" height="290"]

The interior ministry also set up a special task force with officers from secret agencies to look into the matter and three special commissions -- headed by DIG Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sharif Werak, Justice (retired) Fazalur Rehman and Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal -- were also constituted.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organisation working for the safe recovery of missing persons, has said the number of missing persons and dead bodies recovered in Balochistan is much higher than the official figures.

According to VBMP, as many as 19,000 political activists and sympathisers had gone missing in the last 13 years.

VBMP Vice President Mama Qadir said his organisation had submitted a detailed report with evidence to the United Nations.

“There are more than 19,000 people who were subjected to enforced disappearances in Balochistan. None of them has been recovered as yet. Government did nothing except for releasing those who were detained for a brief period,” Qadir told The Express Tribune.

Qadir refuted government claims about discovering only 612 bodies between 2010 and 2013. “We have evidence that more than 2,000 people were killed in illegal detention cells and their bodies were dumped in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mekran, Naseerabad, Sibi and Zhob,” he said.

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/breakdown-of-official-figures?src=web" height="680"]]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: Court orders report on all petitions being heard</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/708915/missing-persons-court-orders-report-on-all-petitions-being-heard</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/708915/missing-persons-court-orders-report-on-all-petitions-being-heard#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 14 06:17:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=708915</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[1,984 petitions have been received, at least 1,327 such cases remain pending.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has sought a comprehensive report on all enforced disappearance petitions being heard by the Supreme Court, missing persons’ commission and PHC, simultaneously. On Thursday while hearing petitions, the PHC chief justice noted once again that if detainees are involved in seditious activities.


The report was ordered by a division bench of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain while hearing petitions of missing persons. Additional Attorney General Syed Attique Shah, deputy attorney generals (DAG) Manzoor Khalil and Kifayatullah, Ministry of Defence Director Legal Wing Commander Muhammad Irfan, Ministry of Interior (MoI) Deputy Secretary Syed Safeer Hussain and Additional Advocate General Mian Arshad Jan appeared for the hearing.

Shah produced a report before the bench which stated a total of 1,984 petitions have been received in which 209 were registered in April, 2014. The commission has so far disposed of 657 cases while 1,327 such petitions are still pending.

The bench was further provided reports on different cases in which the Inter-Services Intelligence denied it has the missing persons in its custody while the replies of MoI are still incomplete.

Connecting dots

The court ordered the Bannu commissioner to also compile a report stating the progress of oversight boards in all internment centres which come under his authority. The court determined the report should be produced before June 11, the next date of hearing.

CJ Miankhel argued he has reports on the health of detainees in internment centres, which is not satisfactory. They are not provided medical facilities, he stated. If detainees are involved in any kind of anti-state activities then they need to be charged accordingly; those not accused of criminal involvement should not be detained, said the chief justice.

The court also sought an account from the Frontier Corps inspector general in the case of Talib Khan who has been detained in Landikotal Fort since February 2012. How many people have been captured in this period, questioned the bench.

The Hangu district police officer was also summoned by the court in a separate case in which Haji Mir Rehman was picked up in 2009 while Colonel Adnan was also directed to submit his comments for this instance.

Visitation rights

The division bench then ordered Lakki Marwat internment centre head Sabz Ali, who was present, to facilitate a meeting between the families and two detainees from Rahim Yar Khan and DI Khan, respectively.

On Wednesday, CJ Miankhel had said petitions of enforced disappearances are continuously being delayed as in each case the government seeks more time for ground work.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Soldiers’ trial in civil courts: SC resolute to decide the matter, says Justice Khawaja</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/708593/soldiers-trial-in-civil-courts-sc-resolute-to-decide-the-matter-says-justice-khawaja</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/708593/soldiers-trial-in-civil-courts-sc-resolute-to-decide-the-matter-says-justice-khawaja#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 May 14 03:25:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=708593</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Directs AGP and K-P’s top law officer to submit their replies today.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court has taken up for consideration the issue of registering a criminal case against serving personnel of the armed forces under ordinary civil law.


Hearing a suo motu case regarding the alleged removal of 35 missing persons from an internment centre, a three-judge bench sought assistance from the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) and Khyber Pakhtunkwa’s (K-P) advocate general, who will submit their replies on Thursday (today).

The bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, also asked the officials as to what should be the appropriate forum for such trial – if a criminal case could be registered against serving army officials. It also enquired whether further proceedings would be initiated in civil or military court.

During the hearing, K-P’s AG Latif Yousafzai informed the bench about the provincial administration’s decision to close the case against some army officials – including Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig. He said the case had been shifted to the army authorities for further investigation and any subsequent trial under the Pakistan Army Act 1952.  Citing reasons for closing the case, the AG said the matter fell under the concurrent jurisdiction and therefore the case was shifted to the military for further proceedings.

The bench, however, pointed out that the district coordination officer Malakand had stated that he transferred the case on the orders of the high-ups.

“The court will examine the matter about shifting of the case to a military court in the light of the Constitution and other legal provisions,” observed Justice Khawaja.

He said the Constitution gives supremacy to civilian courts. “However, if military authorities believe it is at their discretion to transfer a case from a civil court than the top court will examine the matter,” he added.

He said a similar question was raised in the case of a missing person Tasif Ali and Advocate Ibrahim Satti, appearing on behalf of the Military Intelligence (MI), had said that an FIR could not be registered against serving army officials under Army Act 1952.

Interestingly, a former AGP, Muneer A Malik, had admitted that an FIR could be registered against any serving military official. However, in reply to a query of the bench, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Waqas Dar on Wednesday said an FIR could not be registered against military officials.

Justice Khawaja reminded him that an FIR had also been registered. “Now the question is as to whether the trail [of military personnel] can be initiated in a civil court or not,” he said, adding that although the issue could not be settled since 1856 the court was resolute now to decide it. The hearing will resume today (Thursday).

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a defence minister on March 21 lodged an FIR under Section 346 against those army officials, who are allegedly involved in the illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from an internment centre in Malakand.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons cases: Commission traces three missing persons to their dead bodies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/704474/missing-persons-cases-commission-traces-three-missing-persons-to-their-dead-bodies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/704474/missing-persons-cases-commission-traces-three-missing-persons-to-their-dead-bodies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 14 16:39:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=704474</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances disposed off 27 cases in April, but 1,327 cases remain unresolved.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) said on Monday that they had traced 27 additional cases of missing persons during April.

The committee, which comprises of former senior Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal and member Muhammad Sharif is conducting the proceedings of the cases of enforced disappearances with the help of law enforcing agencies.

During April, proceedings were held in Islamabad, in which 27 missing persons cases were traced and disposed off.

Of the 27 cases, four cases were closed after they were deemed not to be missing persons cases. Of the four cases closed, dead bodies of three were recovered.

The dead were Jabbarul Hassan from Vehari, Ghulam Sibtain from Mandi Bahauddin, and Muhammad Haroon from Batkhaila in Malakand.

One case, Syed Ahtisham Ali from Muzzafarabad missing from July 2011, was found not to qualify as a missing persons case.

This enhances the total number of cases to 1,984, out of which 657 cases have been disposed off. This leaves 1,327.

The missing persons were mostly from rural areas spread across the country, of which the men hailed from Swat. They were found in internment centres of Lakki Marwat.

From January 1, 2011, 138 cases of missing persons were pending. Since then, till April 30 of this year, 1846 new cases have been received by the commission.

[infogram url="https://infogr.am/infographic-59828?src=web" height="350"]]]>
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			<title>On hunger strike: Baloch students have replacement ready in case protester dies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/702033/on-hunger-strike-baloch-students-have-replacement-ready-in-case-protester-dies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/702033/on-hunger-strike-baloch-students-have-replacement-ready-in-case-protester-dies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 14 21:55:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rabia.ali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=702033</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Latif, other protesters demand recovery of student leader.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A weak Latif Johar lies flat on a thin mat outside the Karachi Press Club. A doctor checks his pulse as a drip runs through it. His eyes have turned yellow. It has been several days since he last touched food yet the thought of dying does not frighten the young man.

On Tuesday, Johar, 23, entered the eighth day of his hunger strike to demand the recovery of his leader, Zahid Baloch, who is the chairperson of the Baloch Student Organisation (BSO)-Azad. "We tried all means to raise our voice about our missing people," he said. "We protested and leaders, such as Mama Qadeer, walked on for miles. I am now doing this to highlight our plight to the world."

Johar will not give up until Zahid is released. Since he started the hunger strike on April 22, he has lost eight kilogrammes in eight days. "I am ready to die but I won't give up. I am on a hunger strike till death."

His condition is deteriorating with every passing moment and he feels too weak to sit or talk. "He was not even drinking water," said a worried supporter. "We forced him to but he throws up."

Johar's 'ustaad', Baloch activist Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur embraced him, and requested him to end the hunger strike. "I have come here to request him to end this strike. The point has been made." But, the determined protester refused.

Johar, who belongs to Awaran, has done his BA from Turbat College. Since 2008, he has been an official member of the student organisation. "We talk about our rights and give awareness to our people. We tell them about our history."

Several Baloch men and women are present in the tent with Johar. A senior vice-chairperson of the party, Kareema Baloch, said the decision to protest through a hunger strike was by taken by the central committee and many people volunteered for it. "If Johar is taken away or, God forbid, something happens to him, other members will step forward and take his place," she said. "This cycle of hunger strikes will go on till Zahid Baloch is released."

Kareema claimed she and other members of the organisation saw Zahid being led away by law enforcement agencies on the evening of March 18. "We were all at a house in Quetta where we came to know of the presence of the law enforcement agencies," she recalled.

As they stepped outside, they saw men both in uniforms and plainclothes, questioning Zahid. They tied his hands, blindfolded him and then took him away, she said. "They told us to leave; otherwise they would shoot him," she claimed.

Since then, there has been no news or information about Zahid. His wife and two children were also part of the protest but were sent back home by the organisation. The members urged the human rights bodies to take notice of the issue. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: District Administration files lawsuit against D-Chowk protesters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/701823/missing-persons-district-administration-files-lawsuit-against-d-chowk-protesters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/701823/missing-persons-district-administration-files-lawsuit-against-d-chowk-protesters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 14 13:29:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=701823</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Demonstrators say their missing relatives should be tried in court if they have committed crimes.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The District Administration filed a lawsuit against the protesters at D-Chowk when the protest entered its second day on Tuesday, Express News reported.

Relatives of the missing persons from all over Pakistan staged a sit-in and said that if their family members had committed any crime, they should be tried in court.

The Islamabad District Administration, in retaliation, filed a lawsuit against all those participating in the sit-in, in violation of section 144.

Earlier on Monday, a scuffle broke out between the police and protesters when the latter, mostly family members and relatives of missing persons, attempted to approach Parliament House.

Several protesters and police personnel suffered injuries, while Jinnah Avenue was closed for traffic. More than 20 tear gas shells were fired by Islamabad Police to control the crowd.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons protest: Nawaz orders release of D-Chowk protesters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/701371/missing-persons-protest-12-arrested-at-d-chowk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/701371/missing-persons-protest-12-arrested-at-d-chowk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 14 14:15:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=701371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least a dozen individuals including protestors, police and media personnel are injured.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Eight men and four women were arrested and another dozen injured when 50 to 60 individuals attempted to register their protest outside Parliament House on Monday, Express News reported.

On the orders of Prime Minister, the Islamabad Police later released the protesters.

Earlier, a scuffle broke out between the police and protesters when the latter, mostly family members and relatives of missing persons, attempted to approach Parliament House.

Amina Masood Janjua, who was leading the protest, was among the arrested.

Several protesters and police personnel suffered injuries, while Jinnah Avenue was closed for traffic. More than 20 tear gas shells were fired by Islamabad Police to control the crowd.

Two hundred elite force personnel of Punjab Police were also called in for reinforcement.

Media personnel were also injured when elite force personnel reportedly prevented them from covering the incident.

Later on Monday, PM Nawaz Sharif said that he disapproved of the police torture on the protesters and directed action against certain police personnel according to a tweet by Radio Pakistan.

The Premier further said that peaceful protest is the democratic of every citizen.

https://twitter.com/RadioPakistan/status/460804625432858624

Taking notice of the incident, the Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has suspended ASP City and ASP secretariat.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad has also been asked to conduct inquiry into the atrocities committed by the police.]]>
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			<title>Report reveals all: ‘Police gave up on missing persons’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/694494/report-reveals-all-police-gave-up-on-missing-persons</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/694494/report-reveals-all-police-gave-up-on-missing-persons#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 14 22:22:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=694494</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Eight yet to be traced after their disappearances.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Around eight missing persons from the Hyderabad division have still not been traced, according to a report that the Hyderabad range police submitted to the Commission on Missing Persons.

The commission had sought details of 17 missing persons from the police, as the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of eight people was stopped over the last number of years, only to be resumed after the commissioner took notice.

In his report, submitted a few days ago, Hyderabad DIG Sanaullah Abbassi added four more names to the list, to take the total to 21. However, 13 of them have been traced, with five having returned home, while two are now living in Dera Bugti and one in Dubai.

One of them, Muzaffar Bhutto, a leader of banned outfit Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, was found dead in May, 2012, 15 months after his disappearance.

Out of the remaining, Abdullah Bahadur is in detention in an army camp in Lakki Marwat, Mushtaq Soomro and Bachal Thehemore are imprisoned in Nara Jail, Hyderabad, while the family of Rahimullah Soomro has denied that he is missing.

Out of the nine that have not been traced so far, three of them - Ghulam Rasool Abbassi, Muhammad Rafique Baloch and Shafi Muhammad Brohi - disappeared as far back as 1995, 2004 and 2005, respectively. The FIRs of their disappearance were lodged in Sakhi Pir, Hussainabad and Baldia police stations in Hyderabad.

Azmat Hussain Gujjar went missing in May, 2008, Imamuddin Lashari in August, 2009, Nabi Bux Solangi in November, 2011, Muhammad Usman Shaikh in September, 2012, and Adnan Gul in October, 2012. Their FIRs were lodged in different police stations of Hyderabad and Dadu.

The case of Adnan Gul’s disappearance was registered only four days ago at the Phuleli police station in Hyderabad. “The case was registered when the DIG inquired about the matter after the commission sought a report on Gul,” a police officer told The Express Tribune.

The police disposed off all FIRs of the missing men, except Gul’s, because the matters were not being pursued in the court by the complainants. However, additional DIG Sikandar Mangi told The Express Tribune that the DIG has ordered the concerned policemen to restart investigation to trace these missing persons.

The numbers on the list are contradicted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s regional incharge Dr Ashothama Lohano, according to whom, only two persons from Hyderabad were missing. One of them, Mushtaq Soomro, was produced in court in February and was subsequently sent to jail.

“Many of the names cited in the police list do not fall in the category of ‘enforced disappearance’ based on the patterns of their disappearance,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Court appearance: Plea for top spymasters’ exemption accepted</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/691526/court-appearance-plea-for-top-spymasters-exemption-accepted</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/691526/court-appearance-plea-for-top-spymasters-exemption-accepted#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 14 04:44:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=691526</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Issues notice to the petitioner over applications from ISI and MI in missing person case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench has accepted intelligence agencies’ applications, seeking exemption for the country’s top spymasters from appearing in person in court in a missing person case on April 7.


Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi on Friday issued a notice to the petitioner over applications of two officers from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI), requesting the court to recall its summons to their bosses.

The LHC Rawalpindi Bench had on March 19 issued summons to the heads of the two agencies along with the chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Punjab Police chief in the case of Khan Badshah’s enforced disappearance. Later, on March 27, the bench directed the defence secretary to ensure that the spy chiefs appeared in court. Khan Badshah’s mother Nazeema Bibi in her petition claimed that men in plain clothes had abducted her son in March 2013 and requested his recovery.

Both officers submitted that no useful assistance could be gained from their personal appearance. The officers also maintained that they were not in Rawalpindi at the moment and for operational and security reasons, their whereabouts were classified.

They pointed out that the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court had exercised judicial restraint in similar situations.

At the same time, they assured the court that the two agencies would complete inquiries into the matter and file their reports before the next date of hearing.

During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, on behalf of ISI and MI officers Maj. Tariq Malik and Brig. Riaz Ali Qazi, argued before the bench regarding their exemption from personal appearance in court on April 7.

“The scene of the occurrence [disappearance of Khan Badshah] is Wah Cantt, which is covered by MI Rawalpindi. This court will be provided appropriate assistance by officers from MI Rawalpindi… who shall assist this court as and when directed,” stated Brig Qazi in the affidavit.

After hearing his arguments, the bench issued a notice to the petitioner regarding their plea and adjourned hearing till April 7.

It is learnt that though two separate petitions were filed for seeking exemption for spymasters, the government did not request exemption from personal appearance for the defence secretary and IB chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons: Judicial commission tracks down 40 cases in March</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/690012/missing-persons-judicial-commission-tracks-down-40-cases-in-march</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/690012/missing-persons-judicial-commission-tracks-down-40-cases-in-march#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 14 16:11:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=690012</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Most of the missing persons were traced to internment centres in Lakki Marwat, Fizagat, Paithm and Kohat.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The commission of inquiry on enforced disappearances on Tuesday said that 40 pending cases of missing persons were resolved in March 2014.

Of these, it said whereabouts of 36 missing persons had been traced, while four others were dismissed since they were not cases of enforced disappearances.

Most of the missing persons were traced to internment centres in Lakki Marwat, Fizagat, Paithm and Kohat.

The commission comprises of former Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal and IGP Muhammad Sharif Virk. The proceedings of the commission are being held in Islamabad, Lahore. Karachi and Quetta.

During March 2014, the proceedings were held at Islamabad and Lahore.

On January 1, 2011, 138 cases Missing Persons were pending. From January 2011 to March 31, 2014, 1637 new cases were received by the Commission, taking the total number of cases to 1775. Of these, 630 cases have been disposed, with 1145 cases pending.
List of traced persons during March 2014










Name/Parentage
Missing Date

Address


Present Status



Muhammad Amin Khan s/o Bakhat Rawan
12/9/2011
Mst. Rehmat Bibi w/o Missing Person, r/o Village Shahi Bagh, Sirsenai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0344-9821966)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Abdullah Shah s/o Shah Jahan
22/5/2010
Alamgir b/o Missing Person, r/o Dhera, Tehsil Kabal, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0313-9319396)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Paithm)


Gul Said s/o Jahan Khan
13/5/2010
Aqal Zamin b/o Missing Person, r/o Dagay, Kabal, Swat (Mobile No. 0345-8122142)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Niaz Ali s/o Fazal Habib
2011
Shahid Ali s/o Fazal Habib, r/o Gali No. 32, Village Bakhat Doran, Tehsil Kabal, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0346-9440602)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Fazal Ali s/o Muhammad Umer
2009
Mst. Bakhat Rahen m/o Missing Person, r/o Mohallah Thana Shah Dehrai, Tehsil Kabal, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0344-5187905)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Sher Ali s/o Momin Khan
22/11/2009
Nisar Ali b/o Missing Person, r/o Baba Mohallah, Tehsil Kabal, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0311-3828585)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Sajjad s/o Habib-ur-Rehman
29/8/2009
Habib-ur-Rehman f/o Missing Person, r/o Dowd Bannai Kanjo, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0333-9498716)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Bahram Khan s/o Dawa Khan
6/10/2008
Mst. Muntazra m/o Missing Person, r/o Village Bostan Khel, Deolai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0343-5668234)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Muhammad Waris S/o Muhammad Ishaq
2009
Mst. Ayat Begum m/o Missing Person, r/o Village Sersenai, Tehsil Kabal, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0347-9533455)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Kohat)


Shah Anwar Shah s/o Shah Zaman
2010
Mst. Bakhat Zeba m/o Missing Person, r/o Village Asharay, P.O. Shah Dherai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0342-5886619)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Ismail Shah s/o Muhammad Shoaib
13/5/2010
Muhammad Hussain Shah b/o Missing Person, r/o Village Barcham, P.O. Totano Bandi, Zohran Kabal, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0342-9792508)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Nadir Khan s/o Ameer Rehman
6/6/2010
Ajab Khan b/o Missing Person, r/o Village Barcham, Shah Dherai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0346-5603871, 0343-9305829)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Ali Rehman s/o Fazal Wahid
2009
C/O Zagham Jan Village Bala Samai, Divai, Swat(Mob 0344-2714699)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Naeem s/o Muhammad Shareen
2009
C/O Nazar Muhammad Village Divai, Swat(Mob 0346-3577498)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Ali Muhammad S/o Habib-ur-Rehman
2010
Saleh Muhammad b/o Missing Person, r/o Mohallah Masjid Chheena, Shah Dherai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0347-9108769, 0343-9264626)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Fizagat)


Sultan Murad s/o Harmoz Khan
5/2010
Muhammad Ayub b/o Missing Person, r/o Sersenai, Koz Mula Nocham, Tehsil Kabak, Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0346-9442967)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Paithm)


Umer Syed s/o Hazrat Syed
11/6/2010
Anwar Syed b/o Missing Person, r/o Khonagy, Syedabad, Sersenai, Swat (Mobile No. 0331-3512554, 0301-3048926)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Paithm)


Rehman Ali s/o Muhammad Aziz
2009
C/O Muhammad Aziz Muhallah Gul Burhan Sawainai Swat(Mob 0344-75674630
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Paithm)


Muslim Jaan s/o Mudassir Jaan
28/6/2012
Bilal Muslim s/o Missing Person, r/o Village Ganshal, Dherai, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Swat (Mobile No. 0343-9629933)
Closed (Not a case of Enforced Disappearances)


Dilqayaz Khan s/o Iqbaliyaz Khan
20/5/2009
Iqbaliyaz Khan f/o Missing Person, r/o Jadeed Abadi, Rasool Khan, P.O. Bannu, Tehsil &amp; Distt. Bannu (Mobile No. 0333-9725879)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Munawar Hussain s/o Nazar Hussain
4/12/2011
Mst. Naseem Akhtar m/o Missing Person, r/o Jalap, Pind Dadan Khan, Distt: Jehlum (Mobile No. 0343-5973519)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Kohat)


Gul Ameer s/o Malik Gul Muhammad
21/01/2014
Gali No. 12, Muhammadi Colony, Sargodha C/o Gul Hassan s/o Malik Gul Muhammad r/o House No. NK-14, Katarian Market, Rawalpindi (Mobile No. 0321-5148672)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Nazeem Shah s/o Qadeem Shah
23/11/2013
Mst. Raaz Bibi w/o Missing Person, r/o Malikabad, Shahpur, Kohat (Mobile No. 0311-5319372, tel no. 0922-202614)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Kohat)


Muhammad Hayat s/o Zareef Khan
13/2/2011
Mst. Anar Bibi m/o Missing Person, r/o Orkazai Chowk, Shaheeda Banda, Tappi, Kohat (Mobile No. 0336-9513159, 0336-9661886)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Yaseen Shah s/o Qabil Shah
13/10/2010
Muhabat Shah Bacha b/o Missing Person, r/o village Ghalah, Tehsil Katlang, District Mardan (Mobile No. 0336, 5486433, 0331-9199019)
Closed being under process in the Supreme Court of Pakistan


Abdul Waheed s/o Ch. Muhammad Yaqoob
27/8/2013
Ch. Muhammad Yaqoob f/o Missing Person, r/o House No. 777, Ward No. 5, Mohallah Gulabwala, City Jhang (Mobile No. 0333-6752808)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Chaudhry Muhammad Azam S/o Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam
29/06/2011
Asia Qamar s/o Missing person r/o Ch. Muhammad Aslam Faazalan wali street, Inayat Park, Jiya Mosa, Shahdira Lahore
Traced (Returned back to home)


Ghulam Qadir s/o Ali Muhammad
29/1/2013
Muhammad Arif Mehmood s/o Missing Person, r/o House No.33, Block-G/4, Wapda Town, Lahore (Mobile No. 0321-4807030)
Deleted due to other reasons


Muhammad Akbar s/o Ghulam Muhammad
18 Aug 2011
Shabbir Ahmed, Cousion of Missing Person, Moza Obara South, Tehsil &amp; P.O. Jalalpur, Peerwala, District Multan, Punjab(Mobile No. 0346-2458047)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Abdullah s/o Abdul Majeed
23/5/2013
Abdul Majeed f/o Missing Person, r/o Gali No. 4, Mohallah Ameerabad, Bait-ul-Karim, Khan Colony, LMQ Road, Near Chungi No. 7, Multan (Mobile No. 0305-7824007)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Sajjad-ul-Hassan S/o Noor Hassan
08 Jul 11
Chak No.01, Tehsil Jalal Pur Pir Wala, District Multan (Mobile No. 0305-7796867)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Attique-ur-Rehman S/o Mushtaq Ahmed
07 Dec, 12
Mushtaq Ahmed F/o Missing Person, r/o House No. 40-D St.No.3 Main Bazar Rachna Town G.T. Road Tehsil Ferozwala District Sheikhupura
Traced (Returned back to home)


Liaquat Ali s/o Ch. Riaz
24/11/2013
C/O Shahzad s/o Riaz Hussain Village Cheela, PO Khas, Tehsil &amp; Distrit Jhang(Mob, 0346-0719793)
Closed (Not a case of Enforced Disappearances)


Umair Ali s/o Maqsood Ali Abbasi
24/7/2013
Maqsood Ali Abbasi f/o Missing Person, r/o Lal Patti Roper, Allaqa Lora, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Abbottabad (Mobile No. 0308-5097172)
Traced (Returned back to home)


Munir Khan s/o Asghar Khan
July, 2012
Aman Ullah, b/o Missing Person, r/o Darban Road, Gulshan Harris Road Colony, D.I.Khan (0301-8799950)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Taj Wali s/o Qandaray
25/3/2012
Qandaray f/o Missing Person, r/o Charsadda Road, Peshawar (Mobile No. 0302-8897963)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Muhammad Asim s/o Abdul Qadoos
19/11/2012
Inayat Ullah uncle of Missing Person, r/o Tariqabad Colony, University Road, Distt: D.I.Khan (Mobile No. 0312-9964353, 0333-9964353)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Ikram Ullah S/o Hameed Ullah
7/1/2013
Hameed Ullah f/o Missing Person, r/o Village Kacha Malana, P.O. Paka Malana, Tehsil &amp; Distt: D.I. Khan (Mobile No. 0346-7842123)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Kohat)


Razaullah s/o Noor Muhammad
2011
Noor Muhammad f/o Missing Person, c/o Sahil Brothers Hayat &amp; Dost Muhammad opposite Nawab Khad Dealers, Thatta Khalil Road, Taxila, Distt: Rawalpindi (Mobile No. 03467990042)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)


Muhammad Rizwan s/o Abdul Hanan
28/11/2011
Muhammad Nauman b/o Missing Person, r/o Village Sheikh Sultan, Tehsil &amp; Distt: Tank (Mobile No. 0301-4223281, 0336-6176664)
Traced (Confined in Internment Centre Lakki Marwat)]]>
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			<title>Enforced disappearance case: UNHCR refuses to allow witness to record statement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/689803/enforced-disappearance-case-unhcr-refuses-to-allow-witness-to-record-statement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/689803/enforced-disappearance-case-unhcr-refuses-to-allow-witness-to-record-statement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 14 04:18:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=689803</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[AAG Punjab says it has been established that Masood Janjua was killed.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has refused to allow one witness, Imran Munir, to record his statement through video link in a case involving the July 2005 enforced disappearance of Masood Janjua, the Supreme Court was told on Monday.


Punjab’s Additional Advocate General Razaq A Mirza also told a three-judge bench – headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali – that Munir’s both statements were contradictory. It has already been established that Janjua was killed, he said, adding that “now no result is expected in this case”.

During the hearing when, Chairperson of the Defence of Human Rights (DHR) Amina Masood Janjua requested the bench to allow her to cross-examine the  army officers allegedly involved in Janjua’s enforced disappearance, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said: “Do not push the court to a situation which leads to a confrontation between institutions.”

The bench also observed that after the refusal of the UNHCR’s director to permit Munir to record his statement through video link, there was no evidence to establish that the Janjua case still falls in the category of enforced disappearance.

According to his December 5, 2009 statement to the Joint Investigation Team, Munir claimed to have seen Janjua in the custody of ISI Brigadier Mansoor Saeed Sheikh in a cell near Zakria Masjid in Rawalpindi between July 28, 2006 and March 2007. Munir is living in a UNHCR camp in Sri Lanka as an asylum seeker.

Justice Mian Saqib said that if there was some ray of hope regarding the recovery of Janjua then the court could further examine this matter but now Munir himself refused to record his statement in this matter.

The court, however, suggested Amina pursue her case and cross-examine Gen Naeem and other army officers by filing an application before the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) also reminding that the court had already taken a lenient view in her case and that statements of all the witnesses he had cited had come on record of the court denying knowledge of the whereabouts of Janjua.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Enforced disappearances: PHC seeks army’s report on missing person’s death</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/687247/enforced-disappearances-phc-seeks-armys-report-on-missing-persons-death</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/687247/enforced-disappearances-phc-seeks-armys-report-on-missing-persons-death#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 14 04:43:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[noorwali.shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=687247</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Samad was killed in 2012 while allegedly fleeing from security forces’ custody.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Ministry of Defence has been directed to submit an enquiry report of the Pakistan Army to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding the killing of a previously missing person two years ago.


In a slight deviation from the past few hearings of enforced disappearances, a PHC division bench on Tuesday heard 51 petitions separately and ordered the government to file apt replies regarding each of them.

The bench comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan told the officials of both provincial and federal governments that if picking up citizens is in the interest of the state the court would support them because that would be fighting anti-state elements, but such actions should be taken within legal limits.

The bench observed that the law allows the army and intelligence agencies to interrogate and hold anyone they deem suspicious but the families of such persons should at least be informed why and where they were being detained.

Murky details 

The hearing commenced with advocate Razaullah Khan apprising the bench that Abdul Samad, the son of his client Haji Mir Rehman, was picked up by the security forces two years ago.

“The security forces denied Samad was in their custody, however, on August 12, 2012 he was killed in an encounter while he was allegedly trying to escape. This shows that Samad’s death was an extrajudicial killing,” said Khan.

The court observed that earlier on December 11, 2012, it had ordered the principal staff officer of the army chief to conduct an enquiry and identify the responsible persons. The bench then questioned Deputy Attorney General Manzoor Khalil about what the government’s progress in the matter.

An official of the Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces said the enquiry was conducted under Article 157 of Pakistan Army Act 1952 and the report is available at the General Headquarters.

The official further said the deceased had submitted his written confession in the court of judicial magistrate Zafarullah Mohmand under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code which proves he (Samad) was involved in serious offences.

Following this, the two-member bench directed the relevant officials to present the army’s report to the PHC and also directed the provincial government to produce the report of its own investigation, as was then ordered by the court, in the next hearing scheduled for April 16.

Abdul Samad was killed along with two others in an alleged encounter with the security forces in Cantt, Peshawar in August 2012. According to the FIR, the detainees were being held at a temporary detention centre and were meant to be shifted to a notified interment centre, however, they snatched a rifle from a security guard and began firing.

For the families’ benefit 

Furthermore, the court also directed Deputy Home Secretary Usman Zaman to arrange a meeting between Minhajuddin and his family. Minhaj is currently detained at Kohat interment centre and his family was among the 51 petitioners.

As the petitions were heard one by one, it took the bench around four hours to hear arguments from all 51 applicants. It was decided that 15-20 of these cases be heard with limited adjournment period so they are disposed sooner and the families get some reprieve.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Enforced disappearances: Balochistan govt agrees to military trial of two officials, SC told</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/687379/enforced-disappearances-balochistan-govt-agrees-to-military-trial-of-two-officials-sc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/687379/enforced-disappearances-balochistan-govt-agrees-to-military-trial-of-two-officials-sc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 14 21:56:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=687379</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Judicial commission asked for two more months to probe Khuzdar mass grave.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Balochistan government has agreed to refer cases of two military officers allegedly involved in missing persons’ cases to the army for holding their trial under the Army Act 1952, the Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday.


On March 7, the top court had sought reply from the Balochistan government on whether it would proceed against Major Saif and Major Moeen, who are associated with a spy agency, under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or refer the matter to the army.

The court was told that the military authorities had decided to take over the cases from any civilian department under Army Act’s section 94, read with Army Regulation (Rules) 373. To this, the court had directed the Balochistan chief secretary and Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) DIG to meet the counsel for Frontier Corps, Irfan Qadir, in connection with the accused personnel.

On Tuesday when a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed hearing of the missing person’s case, Qadir told the court that on the requisition of the federal government, the Balochistan government has agreed to refer the cases to the army.



Balochistan’s Advocate General Nazimuddin Baloch, who was also present in the courtroom, did not contradict Qadir’s statement and submitted that he, along with the home secretary, had held three meetings with the FC’s counsel in view of the court’s March 7 order.

Baloch, however, could not satisfy the bench regarding the resolution of the missing persons issue as well as provincial government’s decision on other military officials who are allegedly involved in enforced disappearances.

“It’s mean our directive has not been complied with,” Justice Amir Hani Muslim, a member of the bench, said, adding that if the provincial government was not interested in pursuing the cases, then it should inform the court in writing.

Justice Nasir ul Mulk said that the court had adjourned the matter time and again to give an opportunity to the provincial government to solve the missing persons issue but in vain.

The AG Balochistan told the bench that the provincial government was trying hard to tracing the missing persons and take action against the responsible officials.

Earlier, on March 20, 2013, the DIG CID Feroze Shah had submitted a report in the Supreme Court, nominating in the case army men – including two Lt Cols, six majors and two subedars.

Sources told The Express Tribune that there were 12 cases of enforced disappearance wherein army officials were allegedly involved, adding that the provincial government was likely to submit its written stance over the trail of military officials in the top court very soon.

They said the provincial government was still indecisive to refer all military officials’ cases to the army for their trail under the Army Act and there were suggestions to try these officials under the CrPC.

Mass grave in Khuzdar

The bench was told that a commission – headed by Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai of the Balochitsan High Court – had sought two more months to probe into the grisly discovery of a suspected mass grave in Khudzar district.

The bench was surprised to know that the provincial government did not receive report of DNA test and directed the AG to submit reply regarding the DNA report today (Wednesday). On March 7, Balochistan Home Secretary Asad Rehman Gillani had submitted that the Lahore Laboratory would take five months for matching the DNA samples of 11 bodies exhumed from the mass grave with 44 people’s samples.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons case: In a first, govt lodges FIR against army officials</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685877/missing-persons-case-in-a-first-govt-lodges-fir-against-army-officials</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685877/missing-persons-case-in-a-first-govt-lodges-fir-against-army-officials#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 14 21:23:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=685877</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[K-P police registers case on Khawaja Asif’s complaint; SC to scrutinise investigation’s findings for transparency.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a defence minister on Friday lodged an FIR against some army officials in a case involving illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from an internment centre in Malakand who have been listed as ‘missing’ since then.


The case was registered by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police under Section 346 of the Pakistan Penal Code against Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig and others, and the provincial advocate general, Latif Yousufzai, submitted a copy of the FIR before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court.

On the complaint of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the K-P government registered a criminal case under Section 346 against the army officials allegedly involved in the illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from an internment centre in Malakand.

Section 346 relates to the wrongful, secret confinement of a person. “Whoever wrongfully confines any person in such manner as to indicate an intention that the confinement of such person may not be known to any person interested in the person so confined, or to any public servant, or that the place of such confinement may not be known to or discovered by any such person of public servant as hereinbefore mentioned, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years in addition to any other punishment to which he may be liable for such wrongful confinement,” the section states.

A senior law officer told The Express Tribune that Section 346 deals with minor offences that are bailable. “The accused has the right to get bail and the court has no power to refuse it. Likewise, the judge is bound to grant bail from the very first day,” he added. He said that since the 35 missing persons have yet to be found, the police could have applied Section 365 of the PPC, which deals with non-bailable offences.

On Wednesday, the SHO of Secretariat police station, Abdul Rehman, while responding to a complaint by Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, referred its report on the lodging of an FIR to the Malakand police under Section 253 of the Police Rules 1934.

“We are confident that if the matter is probed in accordance with the law by the federal and provincial governments, the names of other army officials who were involved in the removal of 35 persons from the internment centre will surface,” the Supreme Court said in its December 10, 2013 judgment.

Defence ministry counsel Raja Irshad said this is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a defence minister has lodged a criminal case against military officials. He added that the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) could not give the federal government proper legal advice as the government has lodged the case under pressure.

During Friday’s proceedings, the bench expressed satisfaction at the registration of a criminal case and directed the federal and provincial governments to ensure an investigation against the army officials in a transparent manner. The bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, said that if the investigation reveals that other sections of the PPC can be applied, then the FIR should be updated.

The court also sought a copy of the challan after the investigation, saying it would examine whether action taken against the accused is in accordance with the December 2013 ruling.

AGP Salman Aslam Butt told the court that a one-man commission, headed by Justice (retired) Ajman Mian, has commenced a search for the missing persons. The court directed that the commission’s report be submitted within a month.

The AGP, while referring to paragraph 18 of the December 2013 judgment, said that the federal government has promulgated the Protection of Pakistan (Amended) Ordinance 2014 on enforced disappearances.  He stated that the government would put forward further legislation if required.

The case has been adjourned for three weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons case: K-P govt gets 24 hours to lodge FIR</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685458/missing-persons-case-k-p-govt-gets-24-hours-to-lodge-fir</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685458/missing-persons-case-k-p-govt-gets-24-hours-to-lodge-fir#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Mar 14 04:40:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=685458</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Army officials to be charged with the removal of 35 missing persons from Malakand.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal government has thrown down the gauntlet at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa authorities over the registration of an FIR against army officials allegedly involved in the illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from an internment centre in Malakand.

Islamabad police referred its report on the federal government’s complaint regarding the lodging of an FIR to the K-P government. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad Khawaja has given the K-P government a day to register an FIR and adjourned the hearing till today (Friday).

Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt said that the Secretariat police station SHO Abdul Rehman referred its report to the Malakand police station under Section 25.3 of the Police Rules 1934 for the registration of an FIR as Yasin Shah, one of the missing persons, was a resident of a village under the police station’s jurisdiction.

The bench asked K-P Advocate General Latif Yousufzai if any action has been taken by the provincial government regarding the registration of an FIR. Yousufzai said Malakand’s deputy commissioner is examining the matter because Islamabad police did not mention the sections under which an FIR would be lodged against army officials.

The court expressed annoyance at the K-P government and observed that the capital police did not need to mention these sections in the report.

The attorney general told the court that in compliance with the court’s December 2013 ruling, a complaint has been filed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Secretariat police station SHO on Wednesday regarding the registration of an FIR against Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig and others regarding the removal of the 35 missing persons two years ago.

During the hearing, the court also welcomed the federal government’s decision to file a complaint for the registration of an FIR against army officials. “It is a good sign that the law was set in motion and the rule of law prevails in the country,” Justice Jawwad observed.

“Our work is complete,” AG Salman Aslam Butt told The Express Tribune, adding, “However, we will also try to recover the remaining missing persons.”

However, counsel for the defence ministry Raja Muhammad Irshad said that army officials feel they have not been adequately represented before the court in this case as the attorney general did not present the military official’s stance before the bench. “I am very disturbed by this situation,” he said, “because the court did not hear the army’s point of view in this case.”

The defence ministry had earlier suggested that the case be transferred from Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar to any other senior law officer, but former attorney general Munir A Malik rejected this plea.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing person case: LHC issues notices to intelligence chiefs, Punjab IG</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685011/missing-person-case-lhc-issues-notices-to-intelligence-chiefs-punjab-ig</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685011/missing-person-case-lhc-issues-notices-to-intelligence-chiefs-punjab-ig#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 14 05:05:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=685011</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Directors general of ISI, MI, IB.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench on Wednesday issues notices to the heads of all intelligence agencies and the defence secretary in a missing persons case.


The move came during the hearing of a petition filed by Nazima Bibi, the mother of a missing person, Nawabzada Khan Badshah. She hails from Waziristan and is currently living in Wah Cantonment.

Bibi mentioned in her complaint that in March 2013, two months after their migration to Wah, five to six men in plain clothes entered her home and took her sons Nawabzada Khan Badshah and Dr Nawabzada Nek Badshah.

When she asked where they are being taken, the men “replied they will return soon”, she maintained in the petition.

Taufiq Asif, representing the petitioner, said Dr Nek ran an NGO called Sangam Development Organisation, and returned home after sometime.

Dr Badshah told the police that they were taken by personnel of the intelligence agencies.

Nazima had filed First Information Report (FIR) in the Wah Cantonment Police Station in May 2013 after her sons failed to return home. One year later, Nazima’s case was taken up by Justice Ijaz Ahmad of the LHC on Wednesday.

The petitioner’s council claimed that Khan Badshah is in the custody of intelligence agencies.

The court issued notices to the directors-general of Inter Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau, the inspector general of the Punjab Police, and the defence secretary, asking them to file their replies by March 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons’ case: Govt to lodge FIR against army officials, SC told</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685052/missing-persons-case-govt-to-lodge-fir-against-army-officials-sc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/685052/missing-persons-case-govt-to-lodge-fir-against-army-officials-sc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 14 22:05:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=685052</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Defence ministry counsel says government’s step will demoralise army officials.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Caving in to mounting pressure from an unrelenting top court, the government on Wednesday decided to register a case against army officials allegedly involved in the illegal removal of 35 undeclared inmates from an internment centre in Malakand.


A day earlier, the Supreme Court stopped short of issuing an order and instead gave the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments 24 hours to implement its December 10, 2013, judgment in a case involving 35 missing persons.

When a three-judge bench – headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja – resumed the hearing in the second half of the day on Wednesday, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt came to the rostrum and said that he wanted to make one submission.

“It was the K-P government’s responsibility to lodge an FIR – but since it hasn’t done that, the federal government has decided to register the FIR today (Wednesday) in view of the Supreme Court’s judgment,” AGP Butt submitted.

“This is a significant development. Now, there will be no immunity for anyone,” Justice Khawaja said in his remarks.

He referred to the Abida Malik case in which military authorities had objected to the registration of an FIR by the police against army officials. Justice Khawaja, while addressing Amina Masood Janjua, who was present in the courtroom, said that she has been pursuing the case of her husband’s enforced disappearance since 2005.

“It should be clear that everyone will have to submit to the law,” he added. “Now the country will be governed according to the Constitution and no one should have any doubt about that.”

On November 26, 2013, the Malakand jail superintendent had submitted before the top court that army authorities, through Naib Subedar Amanullah Baig, had taken away 35 internees on February 4, 2012.

On December 10, the apex court also declared that the army authorities had removed 35 persons illegally from the Malakand internment centre two years ago. It ordered the prime minister and K-P’s governor and chief minister to present the missing persons within seven days and initiate action against those responsible. The government, however, has been reluctant to take action against the army officials.

When the bench took up the case in the first half of the day on Wednesday, AGP Butt submitted that the additional defence secretary was present in the courtroom and wanted to say something.

“We do not need the defence ministry as the court wants assistance from the attorney general,” the bench observed. It also refused to give ear to the defence ministry’s counsel Raja Irshad Kayani.

“The court cannot show restraint anymore,” Justice Khawaja said, adding that eight months have passed but no one implemented the court’s rulings. He asked AGP Butt to tell the court even if the 35 missing men had been killed.

“The court is concerned with the enforcement of fundamental rights as no one is above the law,” he said. “We have passed three orders after the December 10, 2013, ruling but now we will ask the PM, and K-P’s CM and governor regarding progress of the case.”

The bench will take up the case again on Thursday (today), and the AGP is to apprise the bench of the details of the FIR against army officials.

Defence ministry counsel Raja Irshad strongly objected to the government decision to register an FIR against military officials. This would demoralise the army officials who have been fighting against terrorists in the conflict zone, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons case: Attorney General says FIR against army officials will be filed today</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/684645/missing-persons-case-supreme-court-to-give-detailed-verdict-today</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/684645/missing-persons-case-supreme-court-to-give-detailed-verdict-today#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 14 08:25:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=684645</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Federal, provincial govt fail to present missing persons, Justice Khawaja says notice will be issued to the premier.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt on Wednesday said that a First Information Report (FIR) against army officials involved in the 35 missing persons case will be filed today, Express News reported.

The FIR against the army officials will be filed on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.

The 35th hearing of the case took place today and was heard by a three-member bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja.

Justice Jawad S Khwaja ordered that a copy of the FIR be presented in court tomorrow.

He termed the move a major development, and commented that no one is above the law.

Justice Khawaja had previously stated that barely any progress had been made with regards to complying with the December 10, 2013 court order.

On December 10 last year, a three-judge bench, headed by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry declared that the army authorities removed 35 persons from the internment centre in Malakand Garrison two years ago.

The court had ordered the authorities to present the missing persons within seven days and initiate action against those responsible.

Also in compliance with the court’s order, 12 out of 35 missing persons had been produced before the court, but the government is yet to act against military authorities who illegally detained them.

The defence ministry has already challenged the court’s December judgment, saying the order could have profound national and international implications that could be detrimental to the federation of Pakistan.

The additional secretary defence was also present during today's hearing but Justice Khawaja refused to listen to him, stating that an explanation from the defence ministry was not required.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government had also formed an inquiry committee to probe into the whereabouts of the missing persons as well as check the implementation of the SC’s judgment.  However, the court is dissatisfied with both the K-P and the federal governments’ progress.

The same bench on March 11 gave the federal and provincial government a week to comply with the order, which they failed to do so today.

During the hearing today, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt stated that it was not the premier's responsibility to ensure fundamental rights but it was the provincial governments duty. To this Justice Khawaja responded that the attorney general should give this in writing, adding that a notice will be given to the prime minister.

He further stated that the prime minister himself can appear before the court and say that it was not his responsibility.

Yesterday, just when apex court was dictating the order of issuing a show-cause notice to the premier, K-P chief minister and governor, the attorney general had interrupted and sought a short adjournment, pleading with the court to show mercy. “Please give us a little more time. We will show progress,” he had told the bench.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons’ case: Single-day reprieve for federal, K-P govts to obey SC orders</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/684545/missing-persons-case-single-day-reprieve-for-federal-k-p-govts-to-obey-sc-orders</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/684545/missing-persons-case-single-day-reprieve-for-federal-k-p-govts-to-obey-sc-orders#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 14 04:52:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=684545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bench decides not to issue show-cause notice after AGP pleads for more time.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave another chance to the prime minister, as well as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and governor, to implement the court’s December 10, 2013 ruling in the 35 missing persons’ case.


Just when the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, was dictating the order of issuing a show-cause notice to the premier, K-P CM and governor, Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt interrupted and sought a short adjournment, pleading with the court to show mercy. “Please give us a little more time. We will show progress,” he told the bench.

Upon this, Justice Khawaja replied, “Do not stop us from doing our work. This is a mockery; today is the 34th hearing of this case.”

The attorney general again pleaded, “I bow before you, My Lord.”

The bench then accepted his second plea and postponed the hearing till today.

On December 10 last year, a three-judge bench, headed by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry declared that the army authorities removed 35 persons from the internment centre in Malakand Garrison two years ago.

The court ordered the authorities to present the missing persons within seven days and initiate action against those responsible.

The government promulgated the Protection of Pakistan (Amended) Ordinance 2014 on enforced disappearances in view of the court’s direction. Also in compliance with the court’s order, 12 out of 35 missing persons had been produced before the court, but the government is yet to act against military authorities who illegally detained them.

The defence ministry has already challenged the court’s December judgment, saying the order could have profound national and international implications that could be detrimental to the federation of Pakistan. The top court, however, only took up the petition once.

The K-P government also formed an inquiry committee to probe into the whereabouts of the missing persons as well as check the implementation of the SC’s judgment.  However, the court is dissatisfied with both the K-P and the federal governments’ progress.

The same bench on March 11 gave the federal and provincial government a week to comply with the order.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the AGP told the bench that after Justice (retired) Sardar Muhammad Raza refused to conduct the probe, the federal government has formed another one-man commission, headed by SC’s retired judge Ajmal Mian, to probe the matter.

He also submitted that the commission is starting its work today and would complete documenting its findings as soon as possible.

Justice Khawaja observed that this will start an “endless game”. But AGP Salman Butt assured the court that in view of the commission’s findings, the government would take action against the military officials who were involved in the abduction of these persons.

However, Justice Khawaja responded, “We note your request but decline it. Let us issue a notice to the chief executive of the country and the chief executive of the province to give us a reply over their non-compliance.”

Nevertheless, after the attorney general begged for another chance and so did the K-P Advocate General Latif Yousufzai, the bench changed its mind.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Quelling unrest: ASWJ asks govt to free Baloch missing persons</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/683418/quelling-unrest-aswj-asks-govt-to-free-baloch-missing-persons</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/683418/quelling-unrest-aswj-asks-govt-to-free-baloch-missing-persons#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 16 Mar 14 05:19:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=683418</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Advises Nawaz Sharif to work out peace strategy.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) made a direct appeal to the prime minister on Saturday to secure the release of all Baloch missing persons in order to ensure peace in the province.


The appeal was made by the group’s leader Maulana Mohammed Ahmed Ludhianvi. “The prime minister should personally seek apology from Baloch nationalists who have been deprived of their legitimate rights for decades,” the ASWJ leader told a news conference at the Quetta Press Club.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to Maulana Ludhianvi, should devise a strategy and try holding talks with the Baloch nationalists just like it is doing with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Ludhianvi stressed that the people of Balochistan have been denied their legitimate rights, which has forced them to turn to extremism.

He said that the Baloch people have not been paid their due attention and it was time the government played its role. “ASWJ is willing to play its role if the government wants us to do something for the restoration of peace,” Ludhianvi added.

The ASWJ president also condemned the Quetta and Peshawar blasts, while holding foreign countries responsible for the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>35 missing persons’ case: Top court hints at issuing PM, CM contempt notices</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/681733/35-missing-persons-case-top-court-hints-at-issuing-pm-cm-contempt-notices</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/681733/35-missing-persons-case-top-court-hints-at-issuing-pm-cm-contempt-notices#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 14 03:37:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=681733</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt given a week to comply with SC’s Dec 10 order.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court has hinted that it will issue contempt notices to the prime minister and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister regarding the non-implementation of its December 10, 2013 judgment in the case of 35 missing persons.


Following a request by the Attorney General for Pakistan, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja has given the federal and provincial governments a week to comply with the order and take action against those responsible.

The court has accepted the federal government’s request to hold in-camera proceedings in the case of 11 missing persons, who are living in Afghanistan.

On December 10 last year, a three-judge bench, headed by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry declared that the army authorities removed 35 persons from the internment centre in Malakand Garrison two years ago.

The court ordered the authorities to present the missing persons within seven days and initiate action against those responsible. The court also pushed for legislation regarding enforced disappearances.

In compliance with the court’s order, 12 out of 35 missing persons have been produced before the court but the government has yet to act against military authorities who illegally detained them.

Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar submitted a letter on behalf of the ministry of defence requesting that the government share certain facts regarding these 35 persons in the chamber.

Advocate General K-P Latif Yousfzai said that in compliance with the court’s last order, a meeting was convened between one missing person, Nawab Ali, and his relatives in the Lakki Marwat interment centre. He said a meeting could not be arranged between another detained person, Yousuf, and his family, as none of his relatives had requested a meeting. AG K-P also said that due to the intervention of the provincial government, some people have been recovered.

The bench, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the K-P government’s efforts to trace the remaining missing persons, saying it seems as though the government is helpless and the provincial authorities reluctant to use their powers in this matter.

Justice Jawwad remarked that if the provincial government could not protect the fundamental rights of its citizens, it should permit them to leave the country.

The court also directed the AGP to provide information on the constitutional powers of a province at the next hearing.

Additionally, the court took notice of the federal government’s delay in providing financial assistance to families of missing persons. The case was adjourned until March 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons case: Army man offered ‘last chance’ to record statement</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/681348/missing-persons-case-army-man-offered-last-chance-to-record-statement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/681348/missing-persons-case-army-man-offered-last-chance-to-record-statement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 14 04:32:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=681348</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bench rejects plea to allow the military to probe the matter itself under Army Act.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Monday hinted at the possibility of summoning an army commandant who did not allow his junior officer to join an investigation into the disappearance of Tasif Ali, who went missing on November 23, 2011 from the Sadiqabad police precincts in Rawalpindi.


A two-member bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, said it was giving the army authorities a final opportunity to allow Major Ali Ahsan to record his statement regarding Ali’s disappearance. On behalf of the defence ministry, Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar requested some extra time. Justice Nasir said that if Major Ahsan did not wish to cooperate in the investigation, he should inform the court who his commandant is.

The bench is hearing the application of Ali’s wife, Abida Malik, who claims her husband went missing after an altercation on the phone with Major Haider of the Military Intelligence (MI). Malik provided Haider’s phone number to the police and he has now been transferred from 918 Intelligence Battalion to 61 Punjab where he is serving in Awaran, Balochistan.

DIG Investigation of Punjab police Abdul Qadir Qayyum, specially appointed to the case, said Haider’s real name is Major Muhammad Ali Ahsan. Army authorities have refused to hand over Major Ahsan to the police and during the last hearing, the bench directed the army officer to join the police investigation and record his statement; he did not comply with the order.

On Monday, AAG Shah Khawar submitted a written statement on behalf of the defence ministry, requesting the bench to allow the army to probe the matter itself under the Army Act 1952. The bench turned down the request. “We do not need that statement or the trial of an army officer. We just want to know the location of the missing person and the police needs Major Ali Ahsan for this purpose,” it said. The bench also questioned why the officer had not been interrogated by the army authorities yet. “We have no concern about taking action against those responsible,” Justice Nasir remarked.

The bench did not permit the MI’s counsel, Ibrahim Satti, to speak on the matter. Satti had claimed that he police could not investigate army officers. The case is adjourned till Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing persons’ case: SC asks Balochistan about mode of proceedings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/680268/missing-persons-case-sc-asks-balochistan-about-mode-of-proceedings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/680268/missing-persons-case-sc-asks-balochistan-about-mode-of-proceedings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Mar 14 03:41:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=680268</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Inquires if it wants trial of servicemen under CrPC or Army Act.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Friday sought reply from Balochistan government as to whether it would proceed against army officials, involved in missing persons cases, under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or would it refer the matter to army for taking action against them under the Army Act 1952.


The apex court’s two-judge bench – headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim – directed Balochistan chief secretary and Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) deputy inspector general to hold meeting with Frontier Corps’ (FC) counsel Irfan Qadir in connection  with the probe of the personnel, who were allegedly involved in the enforced disappearance of people from Balochistan.

After holding the meeting, the provincial government must furnish its clear stance about probe of army officials in disappeared persons’ cases.



On January 30, 2014, Balochistan government’s counsel Shahid Hamid had told the bench that the FC was not under effective control of the provincial government and none of the 16 FC officials, nominated in missing persons cases, had appeared before the police to record their statements.

Earlier, on March 20, 2013, the DIG CID Feroze Shah had submitted a report in the Supreme Court, nominating army men including two Lt Colonels, six majors and two subedars in the missing persons’ case.

During the hearing, Pakistan’s Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar submitted that military authority had decided to take over the case from any civilian department under Pakistan Army Act section 94, read in conjunction with Army Regulation (Rules) 373.

The FC’s counsel Irfan Qadir told the bench that in compliance with the court’s earlier order, he had held a meeting with Shahid Hamid and assured him that the FC would take action against the officials involved in enforced disappearances. He said that no action was taken against any officials so for.



Appearing before the bench, Balochistan Home Secretary Asad Rehman Gillani said an agreement was signed between the provincial government and the FC regarding different matters, including cooperation in the investigation of missing persons’ cases, adding that the agreement might be presented before the court in written form.

Upon this, the FC’s counsel contradicted Gillani’s statement and said the FC signed no agreement with the provincial government on any matter.

Voice for the Baloch Missing Persons representative Nasullah Baloch requested that Balochistan missing persons’ cases should be fixed before one SC bench permanently. He said transfer of the matter from one bench to another was affecting the progress on recovery of the persons. The court asked him to file an application in this regard before the chief justice of Pakistan.

The home secretary told the bench that a commission – headed by Balochitsan High Court judge Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai – had sought further two months to probe into the matter related to the grisly discovery of a suspected mass grave in Khudzar district.

The bench was surprised to know that Lahore Laboratory would take five months for matching the DNA samples of 11 dead bodies with 44 persons.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Absent loved ones: Women hold protest march for missing men</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679781/absent-loved-ones-women-hold-protest-march-for-missing-men</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679781/absent-loved-ones-women-hold-protest-march-for-missing-men#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 14 08:01:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=679781</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Women and children marched from Koza Bandha to Kanjo Brigade, banners and placards inscribed with their demands.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Family members of missing persons of the district took out another rally, this time in Kabal on Thursday. They demanded the government resolve the issue of illegal detention and send their loved ones back home.


A group of around 35 women and children marched from Koza Bandha to Kanjo Brigade, holding pictures of their missing relatives, banners and placards inscribed with their demands.
Saba Jan, a resident of Kanjo, led the rally and said all the women participating in the rally had a husband, son or some male relative who had been missing for a long time.
Reiterating the demand she made in a similar protest on March 4, Jan said if their men had committed any crime they should be produced in court. She added they would accept the court’s decision but their illegal detention was inacceptable.
Jan mentioned her husband and two sons had been missing since 2009.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Balochistan issue: Marchers seek recovery of missing persons</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679418/balochistan-issue-marchers-seek-recovery-of-missing-persons</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679418/balochistan-issue-marchers-seek-recovery-of-missing-persons#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 14 03:52:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=679418</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Urge government and UN agencies to find political solution to the problem.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Participants of the long march from Balochistan have demanded recovery of missing persons. They vowed to continue their journey till the recovery of their relatives, expressing disappointment over the response of the government and the courts.


The long march participants made this demand at a discussion jointly organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Insani Huqooq Ittehad (IHI) here on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mama Qadeer Baloch, who started the long march under the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) banner from Quetta four months ago and reached Islamabad on Saturday last, revealed that they were being threatened to end their campaign. However, they have decided to continue their journey.

The march also included people from Karachi and Hyderabad in search of their missing relatives.

Farzana Baloch, one of the women marchers, talked about her brother Zakir Majeed, who has gone missing since June 2009. She said there were many remote areas where people were unable to report about their missing relatives.

She urged the civil society and media to conduct a survey about missing persons and expose all such cases.

Salma Jafar, a social activist, asked the human rights organizations and civil society activists to join their struggle for justice and to raise their voices. She claimed that 19,500 people are missing and the government has taken no action in this regard.

Harris Khalique, writer and columnist demanded a political solution to Balochistan problem.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Making ends meet: Families want their loved ones back</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678962/making-ends-meet-families-want-their-loved-ones-back</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678962/making-ends-meet-families-want-their-loved-ones-back#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Mar 14 05:27:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fazal.khaliq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=678962</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Women carrying pictures of their sons, fathers, husbands and brothers protest outside district courts.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Family members of missing persons took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding recovery of their loved ones.

The rally - which mostly consisted of women and children carrying pictures of their sons, fathers, husbands and brothers - marched on Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road and gathered in front of the district courts where they shouted slogans against law enforcement agencies.

“They took my son saying that he would return in five minutes but there is still no sign of him,” said 70-year-old Dilshad, a resident of Bandai Village in Kabal tehsil. “I have knocked on every door but nobody has heard my appeal,” she said, adding she has been taking care of her son’s wife and children in his absence.

The protesters said they are left with no choice but to beg in order to feed their families since their husbands and sons have been taken away.

Sajida, a wife and mother of two missing people, said her husband and son were taken away five years ago and she has not heard from them since. “Give me back my son and husband as there is no one to provide for my children,” Sajida pleaded.

“Today, despite the heavy rain, families of missing persons have come out to appeal to the authorities to end the torment they are going through,” said Saba Jan, a resident of Kanju Village whose son and husband were abducted in 2009. “In 2012, they took away my other son, assuring me they will send him back in 10 minutes,” she said, adding they are still missing.

Protesters demanded law enforcement agencies present those detained in court if they are guilty, “We are ready to accept any punishment they deserve but do it according to the law,” Saba Jan added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>SC in-camera session: Five missing men appear before court</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679109/sc-in-camera-session-five-missing-men-appear-before-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/679109/sc-in-camera-session-five-missing-men-appear-before-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Mar 14 04:56:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=679109</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Three-judge bench will take up the case of 35 missing persons today.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Five people, who were catalogued as missing, were brought before the Supreme Court during Tuesday’s in-camera session, in compliance with the court’s order on February 27. Two more missing persons, detained at an internment centre, could not be presented before Judge Ejaz Afzal Khan in his chamber due to security reasons.


Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar, K-P Advocate General Latif Yousufzai and Superintendent In-charge Internment Centre Malakand Attaullah Khan were present during the proceedings. The five men present during the session were identified as Naeemur Rehman, Zahidullah, Muhammad Hasham, Ijaz Muhammad and Muhammad Saleh and their statements were recorded.

Yousufzai said the court has accepted a request to allow some time to present the two remaining missing persons in court and a meeting has been convened between one of the missing people and his family.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, will take up the case of 35 missing persons today. At the previous hearing, Yousufzai submitted an inquiry committee’s report, saying these missing persons were handed over to the army authorities by Superintendent In-charge Interment Centre Malakand Attaullah Khan on December 4, 2012. According to the report, seven persons are alive and have appeared before the court on December 7, 2013.

“Two persons have been detained in the internment centre and two persons have died a natural death in the centre,” the report said. “One person has been sent abroad and 11 missing persons have been reported to be in the Afghanistan border area of Pakistan.” The report adds that more than 400 Pakistani nationals are confined in Afghan prisons and a large number of militants and their associates are living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan Kunar province.  “The provincial government has taken up the case with the interior ministry,” the report said, adding that the Afghan government needed to be queried regarding the presence of eight missing people in Afghanistan.

“The cases of all missing persons may be referred to the commission formed on enforced disappearance so that efforts may be concentrated at one forum to bring a positive outcome in the interest of the state,” the report suggested.

The report further submitted that during the military operation in the country’s northern region, a large number of people were apprehended or taken into custody and, following detailed interrogation, militants and their associates were detained while others were released by the authorities. “The number of army units who took part in the operation had been relieved or rotated on a required basis and therefore, no formal record could be found regarding the apprehension or release of these people,” the report found.

The report also stated that 42 places in the country have been declared ‘internment centres’, of which five centres are functioning in K-P. Additionally, it was surmised that one of the missing people, Yasin Shah, may have been ‘apprehended during operations and released later’.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Defence ministry brings 5 missing persons to Supreme Court</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678760/defence-ministry-brings-5-missing-persons-to-supreme-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678760/defence-ministry-brings-5-missing-persons-to-supreme-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 14 08:53:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=678760</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Missing persons to be presented before Justice Ejaz Afzal for an in-camera session.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In response to Supreme Court's order summoning seven missing persons, the defence ministry on Tuesday brought five of them, Express News reported.

The missing persons will soon be presented before Justice Ejaz Afzal for an in-camera session in room 6 of the court.

The apex court is hearing a case about the recovery of 35 disappeared persons, who have been missing since December 2012 after the military authorities allegedly took their custody from an internment centre in Malakand.

On February 25, the Supreme Court had ordered that seven of those 35 missing persons should be presented before the bench.

The court had earlier said there was documentary evidence that these 35 persons were picked up by the army.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
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			</item><item>
			<title>VBMP presents memo: Mama Qadeer ‘satisfied’ with UN response</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678573/vbmp-presents-memo-mama-qadeer-satisfied-with-un-response</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/678573/vbmp-presents-memo-mama-qadeer-satisfied-with-un-response#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 14 04:31:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[maha.mussadaq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=678573</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says they have been assured that they will be at peace very soon.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After covering thousands of kilometres on foot, the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) long march participants reached the UN country office in Islamabad on Monday morning to present a memorandum.


VBMP leader Mama Qadeer Baloch, who seemed satisfied with the UN’s response, said they now planned to return home after presenting their plea to world’s largest representative body.

Having been welcomed by hundreds of people along the way, just two of the marchers — Mama Qadeer and Farazana Majid Baloch — were allowed to enter the UN office in Islamabad. They had a meeting which lasted for an hour-and-a-half.

After submitting the memo, Qadeer seemed relieved and had a big smile on his face. He sounded relaxed, yet anxious. He felt that submitting the document to the UN was just the first step.

He has now begun counting time till when the “real action” will start to provide answers to their unanswered questions.

“They have said that very soon we will be at peace. But, how soon is that time, we have yet to learn. This is our last resort,” he said.

“Where are these missing people? We fail to believe the government. We have failed to get answers from them. The positive response from the UN today gave us a hope,” said Qadeer.

“They said that they will take care of us, so now we will wait and see,” he added.

Qadeer said that the four page document submitted narrates issues being faced by the people of Balochistan.

The document demanded to investigate issues of missing persons, target killings, enforced disappearances, alleged involvement of agencies in heinous crimes, and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate mass graves and international standard DNA tests to identify bodies.

United Nations Information Centre Director Vittorio Cammartoa, who was also a part of the meeting, told The Express Tribune that UN Resident Coordinator Lola Castro, and ILO Country Representative Francesco d’Ovidio, who is also chair of the Human Rights Task Force, were part of the meeting.

Cammartoa said that the concerns of the marchers were handed over in the form a petition which was addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

“The petitioners were assured that their request will be promptly forwarded to Secretary-General’s office in New York and to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva for follow up,” said Cammartoa.

VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch said that a total of 2,825 were registered missing persons and around 1,500 persons have allegedly been killed.

The marchers started their journey from Quetta in October last year with 22 participants including 12 women and three children.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Missing loved ones: Baloch caravan stages protest outside the National Press Club</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/677869/missing-loved-ones-baloch-caravan-stages-protest-outside-the-national-press-club</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/677869/missing-loved-ones-baloch-caravan-stages-protest-outside-the-national-press-club#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 14 07:21:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[maha.mussadaq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=677869</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Plans to present memorandum to UN.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[For Ali Haider Baloch, 10, the fear of losing his life, while struggling to seek justice for his father’s abduction is the least of his concerns.


Ali is accompanying the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons’ (VBMP) caravan that reached the capital on Saturday evening. The protesters plan to present a memorandum to United Nations officials on Monday.

Holding a picture of his father, he recounted how his father was abducted in front of his eyes. While accompanying him to Gawadar, a pit stop in Lasbela district changed his life on July 14 in 2010. “Two cars and a few men, snatched him from my arms, I was weak and vulnerable.”

Ali managed to reach his uncle, who went to the police station to register an FIR but he was refused. He then decided to join forces to fight the battle for justice. He is accompanied by his 14-year-old sister, Samina Baloch, a seventh grader, who said the emptiness in their homes is haunting. With damp eyes, she says the sandals and bangles brought as a gift from her father on Eid from Gawadar were amongst her most precious possessions.  “I safeguard those things more than my own life,” she said with a broken smile.

The caravan, comprising 22 individuals including 12 women and three children, is led by septuagenarian Abdul Qadeer Baloch also known as Mama Qadeer. “Numerous protests and 1,400 days of hunger strikes in Islamabad, Quetta and Karachi were not good enough to get the attention they deserve.

VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch said there are 2,825 are registered missing persons.  Moreover, around 1,500 persons were killed while 18,000 were missing. Nasrullah said the UN must send a fact-finding mission to investigate the mass graves, army operations and take notice of the target killing and enforced disappearances.

While speaking about the hurdles on their way to the capital, he said that those who have been supporting us along the way have been blatantly threatened.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2014.]]>
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			<title>For loved ones: Blistered Baloch at the gates of the capital</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/677418/for-loved-ones-blistered-baloch-at-the-gates-of-the-capital</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/677418/for-loved-ones-blistered-baloch-at-the-gates-of-the-capital#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Mar 14 05:28:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[fawad.ali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=677418</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Civil society and political activists receive marchers at Faizabad.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Some are calling it the longest march in country’s history.


Weathering all odds, the Baloch marchers at last entered the federal capital on Friday.

They were joined by a large number of members of civil society and political parties who had gathered at the Faizabad interchange where they marchers plan to camp over the weekend.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, the participants of Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) caravan asked the people to join them in the cause.

“Mahatma Gandhi had hardly covered a few hundred kilometres when his voice got heard but we have covered thousands of kilometres yet there is no one to assure us of the whereabouts and recovery of our missing loved ones,” said 72-year old Abdul Qadeer Baloch whose son was allegedly killed by the security agencies.



Traffic plan was prepared a day earlier when the march reached Rawalpindi and traffic was diverted on alternative routes.

The march that set out from Quetta in October last year will hand over a memorandum to the officials of the United Nations on Monday and urge them to take notice of the target killing and enforced disappearances. They will also stage a sit-in outside the UN office.

He said they have no trust in the government of Pakistan and want to talk directly to the United Nation. “Wherever they stop us we will stage a sit-in,” he said.

Moving with slow pace, the participants remained peaceful.

“If the kill-and-dump policy did not stop the country may have to face dire consequences,” said Hamid Baloch, said an activist from Balochistan.

The Balochis have been protesting for last several years for the recovery of their near and dears but no one is hearing them and in return are labelled as terrorists and separatists. Qadeer claimed that around 1,500 persons were killed while 18,000 missing.

“The authorities should at least tell us whether they are killed or still alive. Produce them in court if they are really guilty of anti-state activities,” he demanded.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.]]>
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			<title>Baloch missing persons: Long march participants arrive in Rawalpindi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676756/baloch-missing-persons-long-march-participants-arrive-in-rawalpindi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676756/baloch-missing-persons-long-march-participants-arrive-in-rawalpindi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 14 06:59:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=676756</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Leader Mama Qadeer says protesters intend to ask UN to send Nato troops to Balochistan to recover their loved ones.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The long march participants, who left Quetta on foot over three months ago, arrived in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Express News correspondent Imran Asghar reported.

The participants, led by Mama Qadeer Baloch under the aegis of the Voice of Missing Baloch Persons (VMBP), hope to raise awareness about human rights violations in Balochistan and demand the recovery of their missing relatives.

Speaking to Express News, Mama Qadeer said that the marchers were disappointed in the government and were frustrated with the courts. He stated that they wish to present their demands to the United Nations in Islamabad.

Mama Qadeer added that they intend to ask the UN to send North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) troops to Balochistan to recover their loved ones.

The marchers said that they have faced many problems in their journey.

Around 30 people are participating in the march and plan to continue their journey via Murree Road to Islamabad, which is around 30 kilometers from the UN office.

The march had started from Quetta on October 27, 2013. The first phase, a 730 kilometre walk, ended in Karachi with a demonstration in front of the Press Club on November 23. The second phase began in mid-December.]]>
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			<title>Expressing solidarity: Baloch marchers reach Gujar Khan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676160/expressing-solidarity-baloch-marchers-reach-gujar-khan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676160/expressing-solidarity-baloch-marchers-reach-gujar-khan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 14 05:44:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=676160</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The marchers intend to present their demands to the United Nations in Islamabad.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Civil society and political workers have decided to gather at different points in the twin cities to welcome the participants of the Voice of Missing Baloch long march as they approach their destination.


The long march participants, who left Quetta on foot to reach Islamabad over three months ago, hope to raise awareness about human rights violations in Balochistan and demand the recovery of missing relatives. The marchers intend to present their demands to the United Nations in Islamabad.

The long march caravan is expected to reach Rawalpindi through the Grand Trunk Road by Thursday. Along the way, in Punjab, the participants were constantly threatened that they would not be allowed to reach Rawalpindi through phone calls from unknown numbers.

Human rights organisations, writers and activists have planned seminars, protest camps and demonstrations to highlight the Baloch missing persons’ issue in the days following the arrival of the VBMP long march.

The Awami Workers Party (AWP) and civil society members have made arrangements to welcome the marching Baloch to the twin cities.

In a statement, the AWP expressed solidarity with the cause of the VBMP and said all missing persons must be produced in a court of law and the law should take its course.

The AWP also condemned the silence of elected representatives on enforced disappearances in Balochistan, especially given the threats to the security of the participants of the peaceful long march, who are only exercising their democratic right.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2014.]]>
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			<title>35 missing persons’ case: Freed men rejoined militants, SC told</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676212/35-missing-persons-case-freed-men-rejoined-militants-sc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/676212/35-missing-persons-case-freed-men-rejoined-militants-sc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 14 05:04:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=676212</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Top court orders K-P govt to produce seven missing persons on March 4.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Many of the missing persons released by the security forces have rejoined the militant groups they were affiliated with, while others have fled to Afghanistan, reveals the report of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s inquiry committee.


“According to intelligence agencies, Maulana Fazlullah and Maulvi Faqir, who are hiding in the neighbouring country along with a large number of [their] associates, are still carrying out raids against the security forces/civil administration in Dir and Chitral, in which many civilians and law-enforcement personnel have lost their lives,” says the report submitted before a two-judge Supreme Court bench on Tuesday.

The bench – headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja – was hearing the case of 35 missing persons.  The court directed the K-P government to produce seven more missing persons before the bench on March 4. The men have to be produced before one judge in chamber.

According to the court’s order, the attorney general for Pakistan and relatives of the seven persons will also be present during the in-camera proceedings to identify them.

The court has also summoned the superintendent in-charge of the Malakand Interment Centre, Attaullah Khan, to identify these persons. He has already submitted that he himself had handed 35 ‘missing’ persons over to the army on December 4, 2012.

The bench, meanwhile, rejected the K-P inquiry committee’s recommendation to transfer all missing persons’ cases to the commission on enforced disappearances.

According to the report, seven persons are alive and were already produced before the court on December 7 last year. But the K-P government shall produce, if the SC directs them to, the seven missing persons – five of whom have been freed and the two remaining are detained in the internment centre.

The report also claimed that more than 400 Pakistani nationals are confined in Afghan prisons and a large number of militants and their associates are living in IDPs camps in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2014.]]>
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