Illegal detention?: Women and children hold protest for missing relatives
Say they have been waiting for their loved ones to return since more than four years.
The demonstrators threatened to stage a rally from Swat to Islamabad if their grievances were not heard in three days. PHOTO: EXPRESS
MINGORA:
Women and children of ‘missing persons’ convened a protest in Kanju area of Kabal teshil on Tuesday.
The demonstrators set out from Bara Bandai village and marched till Kanju Chowk, chanting slogans against the alleged illegal detention of their husbands and fathers by law enforcement agencies.
According to some protesters, more than 3,000 people went missing from different areas of the valley. Yet, women and children taking to the streets in protest is not a common occurrence.
“We have been waiting for the last four years for our loved ones. They are either missing or in custody; we know nothing,” said Jan Saba, one of the protesters. She added the persons in question should be presented in front of courts and legally prosecuted according to the Constitution of Pakistan.
Another demonstrator, Reshma said they had searched for their missing relatives everywhere. “We knocked on every door, but nobody responded positively.”
The demonstrators said they came out on the roads as they were disheartened by the response of the government. “We took to the streets out of utter despair,” said Taj Mahal.
Sakina, an elderly woman and resident of Koza Bandai village, appealed to the government to release her son. “My son is in the custody of authorities responsible for security since 2012, but he is innocent. Even the local defence committee considers him innocent. I request the government to take pity on me and release him as soon as possible,” she pleaded.
The demonstrators threatened to stage a rally from Swat to Islamabad if their grievances were not heard in three days.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2013.
Women and children of ‘missing persons’ convened a protest in Kanju area of Kabal teshil on Tuesday.
The demonstrators set out from Bara Bandai village and marched till Kanju Chowk, chanting slogans against the alleged illegal detention of their husbands and fathers by law enforcement agencies.
According to some protesters, more than 3,000 people went missing from different areas of the valley. Yet, women and children taking to the streets in protest is not a common occurrence.
“We have been waiting for the last four years for our loved ones. They are either missing or in custody; we know nothing,” said Jan Saba, one of the protesters. She added the persons in question should be presented in front of courts and legally prosecuted according to the Constitution of Pakistan.
Another demonstrator, Reshma said they had searched for their missing relatives everywhere. “We knocked on every door, but nobody responded positively.”
The demonstrators said they came out on the roads as they were disheartened by the response of the government. “We took to the streets out of utter despair,” said Taj Mahal.
Sakina, an elderly woman and resident of Koza Bandai village, appealed to the government to release her son. “My son is in the custody of authorities responsible for security since 2012, but he is innocent. Even the local defence committee considers him innocent. I request the government to take pity on me and release him as soon as possible,” she pleaded.
The demonstrators threatened to stage a rally from Swat to Islamabad if their grievances were not heard in three days.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2013.