The issue even more quickly aroused rage among human rights activists and organisations voiced an outcry
QUETTA: It was only at the beginning of the 21st century that a case of forced disappearance, perhaps not the first one, grabbed the media’s attention. Following that, numerous such cases were heard and taken up in the Balochistan High Court.
Over the period, the tactic emerged as one commonly practised by the law-enforcing agencies. The issue even more quickly aroused rage among human rights activists and organisations voiced an outcry. Much like extrajudicial killings, forced disappearance too doesn’t entitle one to a proper trial procedure through court. Additionally, the family of the suspect is usually kept in the dark for long periods without any satisfying information of the whereabouts of the disappeared.
However, let’s not forget that there are always two sides to an issue just as forced disappearances. Firstly, the captive is a suspect of a heinous crime or espionage working at the behest of external forces and disclosure of the captivity could be more perilous to the situation, which in such cases completely justifies the practice. Secondly, cases having apolitical and civil connotations to a disappearance entitle one’s family to have knowledge of an individual’s captivity while the case should be pursued judicially. Hence, disclosure of detention is a right depending on the circumstances, situation and reasons for which one has been taken into custody.
Amanullah Yousafzai
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2017.
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