Karachi Protest Against Enforced Disappearances Enters 24th Day
KARACHI:The ongoing protest against enforced disappearances in Karachi entered its 24th day on Thursday, as families of missing persons continued their sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club. Mothers, sisters, elderly relatives, and children of the missing individuals gathered at the protest camp, holding photographs of their loved ones while demanding justice.
Protesters claimed that their sons and brothers were taken from their homes and streets without any charges, and despite the passage of years, their whereabouts remain unknown.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt visited the camp to express solidarity with the families. Speaking on the occasion, he said enforced disappearances are not only illegal but also a clear violation of Pakistan’s Constitution and fundamental human rights. “If the state itself makes its citizens disappear unlawfully, it is equivalent to murdering justice and spreading fear and insecurity throughout society. Anyone accused of a crime should be presented before a court and given a fair trial; that is the state’s responsibility,” he emphasized.
He further stated that enforced disappearances inflict psychological trauma not only on the families but on society at large, eroding citizens’ trust in the state and undermining the rule of law.
Several political, labor, and civil society leaders also joined the protest camp, including HRCP Sindh Vice Chairman Qazi Khizr, Karachi Union of Journalists President Tahir Hasan Khan, Nasir Mansoor, Zahra Khan, Habib Janjhi, Khaliq Junejo, Suhail Sangi, Professor Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Saeed Baloch, Comrade Wahid Baloch, among others. They sat with the families and voiced their support.
The leaders stated that the government and law enforcement agencies are constitutionally bound to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and must immediately end this unlawful practice. They demanded that all missing youths be recovered and, if accused of any crime, presented before the courts to ensure justice.
Speakers also urged civil society and the media to play a stronger role in amplifying the voices of the affected families. Families at the camp reiterated their firm resolve, declaring they will continue their struggle until their loved ones are recovered and due process is ensured. They said the sit-in is not only for justice but also for the restoration of the Constitution and will not end until all disappeared persons are brought within the legal framework.
