Seeking out the missing

The game of hide and seek being played in the country goes beyond child’s play. It has a dangerous, sinister ring to it, reminding us of the worst kinds of state abuse, of secrecy and the helplessness of people taken away. In the absence of attempts from any other quarter to deal with a matter that has affected the lives of thousands, the Supreme Court’s determined efforts to tackle the issue are welcome. It has also made some headway while hearing the case of 35 undeclared persons. The men have been tracked down to an army internment camp and the Court has pointed out that the military has no legal authority to hold them. Court orders to produce the men have so far been disregarded.

The SC, meanwhile, continues to press for this, seeking the appearance of both the defence minister and defence secretary in court. (Incidentally, Federal Minister for Water and Power Development Khawaja Asif has been given additional charge of the defence ministry. Up till now, the prime minister himself held the portfolio.) The Court has, however, continued to demand answers and we really need these.

The issue of persons ‘picked up’ in our country has gone on for too many years. Such abuses of human rights are unacceptable. The law lays down clear-cut provisions for the handling of persons suspected of involvement in crime. These need to be followed. The enforced disappearances we have been witnessing since the early 2000s have already created a great deal of turmoil. This is, perhaps, most evident in Balochistan, with attention drawn to the issue by the marchers who walked 356 kilometres from Quetta to Karachi. We hope the efforts of the SC will eventually pay off and drive home to all agencies the fact that people cannot simply be taken away in this fashion, and that doing so will result only in a further breakdown of the rule of law in our country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2013.

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