Forced disappearance in Pakistan
Forced disappearance in Pakistan originated during the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf (1999 to 2008). The practice continued during subsequent governments.
From 1999 to 2008
After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, forced disappearance in Pakistan allegedly began during the rule of military dictator General Pervez Musharraf (1999 to 2008).[1] Pakistan went under immense terrorist activities. A large number of people became the victim of suicidal attacks. During Musharraf's tenure, during 'War on Terror', many people were suspected as terrorists and then taken away by Govt agencies.[2][3][4] Many of them were then handed over to the United States authorities to be imprisoned in the Guantanamo Bay’s Camp X-Ray.[4] After Musharaf resigned in August 2008, he was charged with various human rights violations.[2] According to Amina Masood Janjua, a human right's activist and chairperson of Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, a Nonprofit organization working against enforced disappearance there are more than 5000 reported cases of enforced disappearance in Pakistan. However, as per judiciary, this figures is inflated: there are around 96 people which are not traceable.[5] There are no formal allegations or charges against the persons thus forcefully disappeared.
From 2009 to present
According to Dawn newspaper report, in the first seven months of 2016, there were 510 reports of forced disappearance in Pakistan.[6] In 2011, a Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was formed to investigate the cases of forced disappearances. According to Amnesty International, the commission has so far received 3,000 cases of such disappearances. [7]
- Zeenat Shahzadi: Zeenat Shahzadi, a 24-year-old female journalist who was investigating a disappearance case, was allegedly abducted by some armed personnel on 19 August 2015 and went missing. [7] As of 2017, she remained missing. Her disappearance caused her younger brother to commit suicide.[7]
- Five online activists: In early January 2017, five social media activists – Salman Haider, Waqas Goraya, Aasim Saeed, and Ahmad Raza Naseer – went missing from different parts of Pakistan.[8][9][10][11] Salman Haider was also a poet and academic. [9] Involvement of government agencies were suspected in those disappearances.[9][10] Later, one news report claimed that two of the five — Aasim Saeed and Salman Haider — were found.[11]
Criticism
The cases of forced disappearances were criticized by human rights organizations and the media.[1] They have urged the government of Pakistan to probe these incidents.[1][10] In 2011, a Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was formed, but there was little progress in the investigation.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "“We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”". Human Rights Watch. 28 July 2011.
- 1 2 Shayne R. Burnham (28 September 2008). "Musharraf Faces Charges of Human Rights Violations". Impunity Watch.
- ↑ "Pakistan". Freedom House. 2007.
- 1 2 Irene Khan (30 August 2008). "Where are the disappeared?". Dawn.
- ↑ https://tribune.com.pk/story/1268361/govt-figures-missing-persons-inflated-panel/
- 1 2 I. A. Rehman (25 August 2016). "Disappearances still a major issue". Dawn.
- 1 2 3 "Pakistan: Where Is Zeenat Shahzadi?". Amnesty International. 30 August 2016.
- ↑ Tareq Haddad (11 January 2017). "State crackdown on dissent feared as four secularist activists 'disappear' in Pakistan". International Business Times. IBTimes Co., Ltd.
- 1 2 3 "Fears of online crackdown loom large after ‘abduction’ of 4 bloggers". Pakistan Today. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- 1 2 3 Qasim Nauman (10 January 2017). "Rights Groups Ask Pakistan to Probe Disappearance of Activists". The Wall Street Journal.
- 1 2 "Second missing Pakistani blogger found, leaves country, says family". Al Arabia. 29 January 2017.