Islamabad: Demonstration held for missing persons

Shahzaib Baloch went missing on the day when Zardari visited Balochsitan. No clue of his whereabouts like, other thousands of Baloch who are missing from Balcoistan for many years.ISLAMABAD: Scores of relatives of missing persons on Saturday called on President Asif Ali Zardari to order release of their dear ones through an executive order.Under the banner of Defence of Human Rights (DHR), the fathers, mothers, wives, sisters, sons and daughters of the persons who had gone missing after 9/11 events and still this trend was on, gathered close to the Prime Minister Secretariat The only element of jubilation in recent years, they contended, was the reinstatement of the chief justice of Supreme Court and other deposed judges.They had planned to stage a sit-in and observe token hunger strike at the Parliament House, coinciding it with President Zardari’s address to the joint sitting of the two chambers of parliament. However, they were not allowed by the police to do so.Later, members of Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA) headed by Admiral (R) Fasih Bokhari joined the protesters and expressed solidarity with them.“We request President Zardari to facilitate freeing of our loved ones now. Some one from the government must tell us, what is the hurdle, where is the key to release our near ones,” remarked Amina Masood Janjua, who heads the DHR. Her spouse Masood Janjua, a businessman, is missing since 2005.She told this correspondent that they were tired and wanted the state to fulfill its constitutional responsibility and produce those who were taken away on different occasions. She stood under a big banner inscribed with appeal to president, prime minister and the chief of army staff to help end their sufferings.They chanted slogans on the Constitution Avenue, as the convoys of the parliamentarians and other guests sped away after the presidential address to the parliament was over.Talking to The News, Admiral (R) Fasih Bokhari said that they had decided to have a sitting with the close-ones of the missing persons so that a line of action could be drawn on how to get them freed.“This is sheer violation of all laws to keep people hidden. It is also a transgression of the concept of habeas corpus. Whoever is behind this violation, must be held accountable, as the argument that I or we were following orders does not hold any ground with reference to holding people in unknown confinement,” he maintained.PESA, he explained, intended to approach the court of law after having a detailed presentation from the relatives of the missing people. “If at all, there are any charges against them, they should be produced before a court,” he said to a question.Lashkar Khan, who had come all the way from Quetta, said that he lost his young brother Chakar Khan on February 06 and never heard about him afterwards. He was a businessman. He has three children, spouse and ailing parents.He said his missing brother had no connection with any political or religious party. “It appears, his case is like hundreds of others, who had gone missing in Balochistan,” he said.Spouse of Dr Abid Sharif said her husband was taken away on September 16, 2005 on his way to Peshawar, where he was to setup a medical camp to provide free help to the ailing people.Yet another such a case is of Tahir Mehmood, 28, who ran a truck stand in Nowshehra. He is missing since February 04, last year. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=169694