Seeking info: Ad urges families to provide details of suspected militants

Warns of action in case of non-compliance.

PESHAWAR: A government department has published a newspaper advertisement requesting people to share information about any family member who has links with banned militant outfits and has gone missing.

The advertisement which appeared in Urdu newspapers on Saturday states cases will be registered against these families and their property will be confiscated if they fail to provide these details to the police or political administrations.

However, the advertisement has drawn criticism.

A senior lawyer, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told The Express Tribune that under Criminal Procedure Code a missing person’s family cannot be held responsible for his actions.

“However, if the procedure is implemented properly, it could help law-enforcement agencies to determine the whereabouts of people who have gone missing,” he said. “It could help reduce militancy in the province and in the tribal areas.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an official at the Central Police Office denied having any information about such an advertisement, saying there is a possibility that it had been published by the provincial government.

No government official was willing to comment on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2015.