Judges want families of target killing victims looked after by government

SHC bench was hearing a petition to help families of missing persons.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the provincial chief secretary to establish separate committees to financially support the families of the missing persons but also those of the victims of target killings.

The order came during the hearing of a petition, filed by Nisar A. Mujahid, the chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Liberties Society of Pakistan, demanding the federal and provincial governments rehabilitate the families of the hundreds of missing persons.

After 9/11, the US authorities have picked up a large number of alQaeda suspects with the consent of the governments of different countries. “In Pakistan, neither the detainees were brought to courts nor were their whereabouts disclosed,” he claimed.

The affected families have become isolated and are facing immense financial constraints. Even the non-governmental and social welfare organisations have backed out from helping them, he added.

On February 21, the officials informed the court that the Pakistan Baitul Maal was already helping these families pay for schools and medicines.



It was suggested that a committee should be constituted of the nominees of the Pakistan Baitul Maal, provincial interior and social welfare departments to visit each family and recommend appropriate forms of assistance.

The judges noted, however, that there were many affected families who lost their loved ones in targeted killings are also suffering. SHC Chief Justice Mushir Alam said that a committee should be formed to help the families of the victims of target killings from Baitul Maal, apart from the families of missing persons.

The bench directed that the representative of the Baitul Maal and an officer from the Sindh police to conduct surveys of all affected and deserving families so that their financial, educational and medical needs may be assessed and recorded.

The relevant departments will submit their report by March 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2013.