KARACHI:A large number of members of civil society gathered outside Karachi Press Club to express solidarity with families members of enforced disappearances, who are sitting outside residence of President Arif Alvi.
For the last 11 days the family members of the Shiite Community have been peacefully protesting outside the President’s residence to demand to have knowledge about whereabouts of 80 missing persons from Karachi. Some of their loved ones have been missing for over 3 years. The protesters who are being treated harshly have been accused being anti-state, and some protesters were arrested early this morning after lodging of an FIR.
The Civil Society members condemned the enforced disappearances, crackdown on peaceful protesters, and unwarranted arrests. It is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of its citizens. Article 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to free trial. Unfortunately enforced disappearances have become a norm in our state.
The protestors demanded the state to recognise this inhuman practice of enforced disappearances as a distinct crime and the perpetrators should be brought to justice and a law be formed to declare this practice as illegal and unconstitutional as it curtails the fundamental right security of people.
False allegations against peaceful protesters be removed and that they be released immediately. The government should take serious measures to address their concerns. The whereabouts of all missing persons be disclosed and that they be granted the right to free trial. Those who were present on the occasion included Anis Haroon, Karamat Ali, Asad Iqbal Butt, Sheema Kermani, Naghma Iqtidar and Aabida Ali.