Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has expressed serious concerns and resentment over the absence of the chairman Judicial Commission on Missing Persons and relevant officers. The committee met with Senator Nasreen Jalil in the chair here at Parliament House on Monday. The committee discussed the issue of missing persons and missing political workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the eve of bye-election in NA-120, Lahore.
While expressing serious concern over the absence of chairman Judicial Commission on Missing Persons former justice Javed Iqbal, Chairperson of the committee Nasreen Jalil said, "Thousands of people are missing and their families are in miserable condition. There are allegations on secret and law enforcement agencies that they abducted these people while the govt gives the responsibility to the same agencies for investigating the missing persons' cases."
She further said, "The missing persons are not appeared before the courts while their mutilated dead bodies are found." The chairperson said that the committee wants to reduce the difficulties of the Commission and wants to know about its performance. The committee wants to get details only about how many cases have been filed in the courts, she said. The meeting should be held with all stakeholders, she said.
Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the Parliament, Supreme Court and all the institutions have failed to resolve the matter of missing persons. "There are also many questions on the performance of the Commission on Missing Persons, saying despite the identification of the people involved, no punishment was given. The Commission has failed to deliver at some points," he categorically said.
Babar said that the issue of missing persons is very serious and all the institutions should take measures for the recovery of these people. He said that old mothers are still awaiting their young sons. Talking about the issue of picking up persons from NA-120 Lahore, Senator Nisar Muhammad said that the matter is political. Senator Kulsoom Parveen said that the issue related to Lahore is not such a big problem.
Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja said that Pakistan should resolve the issue of missing persons itself, as if the matter is taken to the United Nations, the image of the country will be damaged. Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini said that it is compulsory to present any suspect or accused arrested under the National Action Plan (NAP) before the court. The families and relatives, including small girls, have been protesting for the recovery of their dear ones for the last four years.
Senator Nisar Mohammad said that the committee would get answers on its recommendations from the concerned authority. Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the report of the UN Working Group about the missing persons, which were prepared in 2012, should be made public. The chairman National Commission for Human Rights told the committee that international agreements are signed by keeping internal conditions and laws of the country in mind. He added that the UN convention about the missing persons has not been signed yet.
Senator Farhatullah Babar said that international conventions should be signed keeping the national interests in mind. The officials said that the Commission was not made under a legal order but through an executive order. Senator Farhatullah Babar said that a mechanism for legislation should be prepared for this purpose. The chairman National Commission for Human Rights said that the Commission has raised voice for missing persons and prepared a list of such people. The committee recommended to the Interior Ministry to make a procedure to look into this matter and to set up a complaint cell.