Enforced disappearances: ‘All men in my family were picked up’

Relatives of missing persons say their loved ones have been picked up without giving family members any information.

PESHAWAR:

The Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation, a law which allows security forces to take action against anyone challenging the government in the tribal areas, has been criticised on several fronts. Relatives of missing persons say that although the law allows authorities to hold suspects in custody for investigation, it does not sanction their indefinite detention. They claim that their loved ones have been picked up without giving family members any information on their whereabouts.

“Four men from my family were picked up in 2009. Investigations have been going on for four years, but I still do not know how or where they are,” said Jahan Saba, a resident of Kanju in Malakand Agency. Her husband Muhammad Khalil, two sons Nasir and Muhammad Saleem, and cousin Fazl-e-Akbar and brother-in-law Sufi Jan are among those ‘missing’.

“My husband and Nasir worked together at a shop when they were picked up by security forces during the Rah-e-Rast operation,” Saba said. Saleem, the sole bread earner of her family and the only man around, was also picked up last month.

“I am alone with my daughter-in-law and grandchildren now. I can do nothing but beg for their release,” Saba said, pleading that she be informed whether her family members are dead or alive.



“I am aware of the powers conferred to the forces. They (forces) can arrest people but cannot keep them people in illegal custody, she said, adding that she will self immolate if her family members are not identified.

Jan Wala, a resident of Swat, said her husband had voluntarily given custody of their son Muhammad Ishaq to security forces in 2009. “My son’s only crime was that he once served the Taliban tea,” Jan said, adding that her husband was infuriated and against the Taliban so he handed over Ishaq to the authorities.

“The judge (Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan) said holding people in illegal custody is in violation of the law,” she said, adding that she has no information about where he was being held.

The Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation was put into effect on February 1, 2008.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2013.