I read the above article relating to the missing people. I am very thankful and have a great respect for Sana Saleem. Because she has a great sympathy for the effected families. I would like to request all the people of Pakistan to help her and try to make her successful in this good work.

I am 100 percent sure that unless we are ally of USA, the abductors will not free missing persons. Mobilizing a group of people is not the solution in my viewpoint rather we should work for motivating public sentiments. Each and every household should be approached through electronic media campaign like many news channels repeated by running advertisement of one to three minutes duration during the struggle for the restoration of Chief Justice of Pakistan. This the only way to remind and sensitize Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry, Yousaf Gilani, Nawaz Shrif, Ashfaq Kyani and others who matters to accomplish the unfinished agenda of people struggle for the restoration of free judiciary.

I have read Sana’s article, I am quiet agree with her that we all have very short term memory, we read these types of article feel sorry for these types of issues and we forget on a very next day. It is very unfortunate in Pakistan that we do not have rule of law or even rule of Allah’s law (mean fear of God in our hearts).
We all are Muslims with no fear of Allah or his Nabi, but if you asked most of us we will deny bluntly & say we do have fear of Allah or his Nabi. If we do then why do not we care about each other, why we have become so materialistic, why we do not listen others, why we always think that our opinion is always right, why we do not get on with others like brothers, sisters even mum and dad or our neighbours? Why we have no patient anymore, we have only one direction “Money” by hook or by crook. The lie is becoming so norm in our life that we do not think it is a lie anymore or lying is bad at all.
The point, I am trying to make is that we have lost our old good traditions, there is no close community, everyone is busy in their own life, if it effects you directly then we care about it, if not then the only important thing for us what in it for me. We are becoming so heartless and suspicious that we do not believe or care unless it is directly affecting us.
There is a possibility that few of you might not agree with me but I can see more than others these socio economic issues as I have been living outside of my country from long time. I have seen noticeable changes in people’s behaviour, and they call these changes are for survival.
I have been following this missing people issue from long time as you have seen solicitors movement even our politicians have used this issue but now when they are in power and can do something do not want to do anything even do not want to talk. I am going back to one of my above point that what in it for me now nothing in it for them.
We all need to change our direction and ourselves. But let me tell you one thing my heart bleeds for my country and I feel helpless that I cannot do anything.

Once upon a time a traveller was passing by a village, he noticed that all the villagers of that village were crying. He enquired about their grief. He was told that a person of that village had been murdered by his co-villager and they were mourning his sad death. The traveller sympathised with them and prayed for the soul of the deceased and then restarted his journey. After a few years the same travller had again a chance to pass by that village. To his surprise he saw that the people of the village were again crying. He landed from his horse and asked a villager that a few years back when he passing by there people were mourning a murder but coincently today he found them again in a deep state of grief. He was told that the person who committed that murder was hanged that day and they were crying over his death. The traveller thought for a while, mounted on his horse and said to his horse “gallop away from the village where murderer and murdered are mourned alike.

Before action was taken against the people of Lal Masjid, every one was snubbing government for not taking action against them. But as soon as action was taken and the masjid was freed, the same people started criticising government for the action. I think Paksiatni’s should take a stand on an issue after due deligence and that stance should not be changed to what may come. It needs moral courage to spade a spade.
These missing persons must have some links with terrorists as it has been said “all truths are half true”.

Article is a gem, theoretically though. Law enfrocement agencies have a job to do. With what the suicide bombers & terrorists are doing to the country, their job is much more difficult. I tend to believe that during the present era of media scrutiny, a very low % of “Missing Persons” is a case of “being at the wrong place & time”. Well some collateral is normal. That happens in West too.

We have Supreme Court, High Courts and many others but we do not have rule of law.
Case of missing persons has not been given importance which it required. One can imagine agony of the families of the missing persons. The missing persons may have committed crimes but they must have passed through process of law. Are the agencies, which are believed to have kidnaped these people above law? Yes, practically the are! Some of the commentators have co-planed that Chief Justice for whose restoration they had struggled in the hope, that after his restoration he will make justice to be within easy reach of the people. But he, at this point of time, is busy to tackle with his brother judges who have taken oath under PCO. Near and dears of the missing persons should better wait patiently and catch Aitzaz Ahsan who had made tall claims while struggling for restoration of the Chief Justice.
keeping the people in custody and incommunicado is inhuman, clear violation of the constitution, the law and morality. The matter had been in notice of the Chief Justice, has been suffiently high lighted through press and electronic media even then possibility of relief seems a difficult task.

Great article Sana. You have highlighted an issue that the whole nation had forgotten, apparently.

Whatever these people have done, they deserve a fair and open trial. That’s a basic rule of democracy and a question of justice and fairness. To those who have commented on this blog that these people should be kept where they are, shame on you. You are saying this because you are sitting comfortably in your home. Suppose a ‘high-up’ someday decides that you are a terrorist and need to be locked up, without giving you a chance to defend yourself, how would you like it?

Honestly, I think the Cheif Justice has made a deal. He will not raise this issue for the sake of ‘national security’, the altar on which we have sacrificed countless innocent lives and livelihoods.

This is really a very detestable act of our secret agencies. Where are the vows and pledges of those politician who got votes by their tears and pathos? I entreat all readers to help those distressed families of people in anyway you can.

How can we call this a democracy with these on goings? Human life unfortunately has lost significant value in Pakistan. What’s taking the parties so long to decide whether the detainess are guilty or innocent? If guilty, trial them in a court of justice, if innocent let them go back to their families or else we will be laying the foundation for hatred against a disfunctional demcoracy. Chief Justice Sahab: Wake up. Can’t you fell the pain of the people who brought you back?

Missing persons detention is absolutely illegal, unhuman and crual act. If they have done anything wrong, deal them according to law and constitution of Pakistan. I would like to inform those who are involved in this crime for temporary gain that more than this will happen with them also.

These people had links with jehadi terrorist organizations as well as Taliban. These people must be punished in front of public so that no body in the future dare to do so again.

It is appalling that no one pays attention to missing people, including politicians, governments, judiciary, and civil society. This just tells you what kind of a nation you are. Can no one help the families of missing people?

We know Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, Cheif Justice and Mullahs are corrupt then why folks of Pakistan have hopes from them? Why?

Common Start blaming India as usual. Your ex-dictators and are corrupt. They never looked after the welfare of the ordinary and innocent citizen. Writing this on the wall for Pakistan. I feel very sorry for my own country men 60 yrs before. May Allah all mighty show you the path.

Good to read this post. A few months back I got chance to talk to an old man whose son is among these missing people. I don’t know I have been as sad ever before as I felt after talking to him. I was literally busted to tears. One thing which really touched my heart were the words of that old man “if my son is guilty bring to the court of law and punish him if the accusations proved to be true at least I would be able to see him than.”

We were so confident that the revived supreme court would want the missing persons case brought to its satisfactory conclusion, this is not so. I am dissapointed that the supreme court is not delivering Justice we all hoped it would.

Indeed, every one is entitled to freedom. With regard to people detained the relatives are entitled to know the where abouts of such missing persons.
If the detainee are not guilty as charged, they must be allowed to reunite with their families. Never the less, the people detained without charges is a clear violation of the human rights under the constitution of Pakistan.
In this regard, the delayed justice must be noticeable by the honourable Judiciary at the earliest to relieve the so many aggrieved families.

I am not sure why they were picked up by the authorities and were never produced before any court. The high officials of the Government agencies involved in such crimes should be exposed and brought to justice. It has been more than a year that a new government has taken over but the issue of missing people has not been resolved. If we don’t help the missing people, we will be next in line to become missing persons without a trace.

I’ve had BIG expectations after the restoration of Judiciary. But now I’ve realized that many of the issues of Pakistan are time taking to get resolved. Supreme Court should make priorities and settle this particular issue once and for all, positively. Though I still have hopes from Supreme Court. Justice delayed is Justice denial, really. But in Allah’s court, His delays aren’t His denials.

I don’t understand why none of the politician take a literal bold steps on this issue. Almost every political party is stuck with its same recurring issues and most of them are concerning the “power-ship”. May Allah bring all of us to some sanity.

We Pakistanis have to realize the importance of merit and equality. My heart goes out to the families who have lost the loved ones. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the people who have been missing for years and years. Thousands of young men went missing back in late nineties and early two thousands when Army started the operation against the people of Karachi. It seems we have forgotten them, why? The people who went lost at that time were as much Pakistani as the people went missing one year back are. They are as much Pakistani as you and me are. So why don’t ask don’t tell for people who went missing from one part of the country?
We as Pakistani’s should open our eyes and look around us every country is working as a unit for the prosperity of its people. We are still cutting each others throats because might is right and the one who is in majority can get away with anything like doing operations on minorities or just take their things like gas without paying them a single penny. I know most of our fellow men are not educated but the people who live in Pakistan who go to schools and universities who practice equality in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi how come they don’t see everyone with the lens of equal right to live and earn?

What is the real story behind these people without getting emotional, why these people were picked up by the agencies in the first place. Why out of 140 million population, only these 400 people were picked up. There must be a reason. If these people have any links with Taliban/terrorists then its better that these people should not get recover from their prison. We have already enough Taliban terrorists to deal with.

To me it is tragic that Human Rights for Hindus is never a concern of “Human Rights” activists. Be it in Pakistan or Kashmir.

Well written.

I wonder what’s stopping the Cheif Justice from taking up this case when his interest in this case set the foundations of conflict between him and the government in 2005. Four years are more than enough. The media also seems to have forgotten about the issue. They need to highlight it and remind the Chief justice of his promises that he seems to have forgotten for God knows what reason.

I think Allah will not help us unless we help ourselves how many of us individually do some thing for those missing people we can highlight this by publishing this issue to government and abroad.

an eye opener issue. really now a days we are only updated with the hot and burning issues of suicide attackers.
the familes of those missing people really suffering alot, and as being the part of society we must raise the voice.
i will definitely play my part.

Well sana ..it is become a heart burning reality. The war on terror made a us to pay a heavy cost of human life.i am with the families of missing people. The responsible people should be taken under detention. our system has totally collapsed.Only media can make this issue pointable .It must be raise in the Parliament also. But the parlimentarians are enagaged in trivial things. by heart i want to do sumthing for the innocent…And doc. afia is still victimised…No one knws when justice wil return..

Yes we are in the habit of putting all blame on the USA for every wrong in our country. When we blame the USA for establishing Guantanamo Jail we miss the fact how many such Guantanamos we have in our country.
when we (rightly) talk of the plight of Dr. Afia Siddiqui we forget that inside Pakstan there are many families that are going through similar agonies.
It is now only that we are sympathising with the police for the loss of their personnel (due to blasts etc). Previously we have always been correctly condemning the gories committed by the police. May be what is now happening is actually the price of what they have been doing to the innocent people.
Sana did not give the details where help to the forum can be sent.

Good read thanks for bringing this issue to light.

I am curious to find out about the 99 people that were located. Whose agenda were they serving? And where were they kept all these years/months?

This reminds me a lot of Argentina’s Dirty War when all those political dissidents were picked up and thrown out of planes over the Atlantic. God knows if all our illegally detained citizens are alive or not. I cant imagine how the families must be feeling as their lives have already been shattered. They have all been kept in the dark for what reason. Are they so dangerous that the public must not know what they were taken away for? The so called restored judiciary has not fulfilled it’s promises to look into the cases of the victims of the Dirty War in Pakistan. It’s sad that they are not so bothered to help those people who helped them. Only Allah can help us.