International Week Of Disappeared

(Pakistan Point News / Online - 31st May, 2019) uman rights activists for approval of bill against enforced disappearanceISLAMABAD May 31 (Online): Likewise the world, Pakistan on Friday observed International Week of Disappeared.In this connection, Defence of (Pakistan Point news / Online - 31st May, 2019) uman Rights along with other partner organizations held a press conference in Islamabad and during the conference they disclosed a draft bill against enforced disappearances in Pakistan.

The organizations working for the issue of enforced disappearance demanded of the government to draft an ideal law that provides justice to the aggrieved families.Defence of (Pakistan Point News / Online - 31st May, 2019) uman Rights in collaboration with advocates from Islamabad (Pakistan Point News / Online - 31st May, 2019) igh Court and other human rights organizations, civil society organizations and politicians has been working for the last many months on the draft of the proposed bill to criminalize the practise of enforced disappearance in Pakistan.

D (Pakistan Point News / Online - 31st May, 2019) R Pakistan Chairperson Amina Masood Janjua while justifying the need for this proposed law said that the history of enforced disappearance in Pakistan dates back to the time of Musharraf regime when thousands of innocent people were snatched away from their families.Out of those disappeared, there are many who have not returned yet. Their families are still waiting for justice and their disappeared loved ones.

Although, General (retd) Musharraf had to relinquish his seat in 2007 but his legacy was taken over by subsequent so-called democratic governments. People kept on disappearing.The total number of cases registered by D (Pakistan Point News / Online - 31st May, 2019) R is 2,681, out of which 44 new cases have been reported in 2019 only. That's why there is an urgent need of criminalizing the practice of enforced disappearance in Pakistan.The bill envisages a sentence of 3 to 10 years for the perpetrators of enforced disappearance according to the level of involvement in the crime.

She further added that the copies of this bill have been sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, and many other leaders of the political parties.It's about time that any respective political party should move forward with the bill and table it in the Parliament. The main objectives of the proposed bill included criminalization, prevention and investigation of enforced disappearances. The bill also addresses to provide compensation and maintenance to the families of the disappeared.