Despite all the publicity and the Chief Justice almost disappearing for bringing up the issue, allegations of random arrests are continuing
Agencies continue to whisk away people: HRCPBy Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 29: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Thursday said law-enforcement agencies were “continuing to kidnap and getting citizens disappeared without any check or restraint”.
“After the commendable suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court of Pakistan vis-a-vis enforced disappearance of around 40 persons and the HRCP’s constitutional petition against the disappearance of about 158 citizens of Pakistan, it is shocking that agencies are still kidnapping citizens,” said Iqbal Haider, the secretary-general of the HRCP, in a statement issued here.According to him, the HRCP continued to receive complaints of kidnapping and disappearances of citizens from various parts of the country.
“According to the recent complaints received, a 17 years old student of matriculation, Afzal Dilbar, president of Baloch Students Organisation in Pasni, along with his three friends, Gul Muhammad, Shabbir and Mohammad, was reportedly picked up by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tehsil Tump, and SHO Tump Police Station on February 15, 2007 from Tehsil Tump, District Kech, Balochistan, and then they had been handed over to the Frontier Constabulary,” he said, adding, “Since then their whereabouts remain unknown. The family members of the disappeared victims approached the Tump Police Station but no FIR could be registered.”
The HRCP office-bearer said another case reported from the same district was that of Noor Jan. “He was reportedly picked up by the law-enforcement agency personnel in plain clothes from Ghulam Nabi Petrol Pump, Salala Bazaar, Tehsil Turbat, District Kech, on February 09, 2007. Since then the whereabouts of Mr Jan remain unknown,” said Mr Haider.