A slur on the agencies
The issue has lingered for far too long. The affected families have knocked at the doors of all institutions to seek the freedom of their dear ones reportedly in the custody of the army agencies. When appeals to the army fell on deaf ears, they approached the courts, the elected representatives, the media and the local human rights organisations. The issue turned up in several National Assembly debates without producing any result. The issue then landed on the table of the Supreme Court where the hearing continued for 21 months without any breakthrough. The obstinacy on the part of the powerful abductors is leading to a situation where people are fast losing confidence in civil society organizations, the National Assembly and the higher judiciary. The dependants of the disappeared persons recently undertook a 756 kilometre long march from Quetta to Karachi to highlight the issue. A representative of the HRCP who approached the marchers was sent away with the remark that there was no use talking again and again to an ineffective body. As alienation climaxes, they seek foreign assistance from the UN if possible and if that doesn’t take place from any source whatsoever.
The issue of forced disappearances is not confined to Balochistan alone. People have whisked away and kept incommunicado without due process of law from all the provinces. This unfortunately is eroding the prestige of the army as an institution. People in every country hold the military in high esteem as soldiers shed their blood to defend the national borders. But when the army is seen to be turning on its own people, the bond is bound to weaken.
The new army chief has the opportunity to revamp the army’s image. He can bid farewell to the policy of forced disappearances that became routine after take over by Gen Pervez Musharraf. It was argued in the past that the courts let the criminals, arrested after great effort by the law enforcement agencies, go scot free while the courts accused the prosecution for preparing weak cases. With the promulgation of the Pakistan Protection Ordinance the LEAs have been provided enough time for investigation and preparation of foolproof cases. Those who have been held captive without lawful authority should be presented before the court and duly charged with the crimes they may have committed. Henceforth a ban must be imposed by the army on forced disappearances, because it’s slur on the agencies and its own image.
