AI concerned over enforced disappearance in Pakistan

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) An international human rights watchdog today expressed concern over Pakistan becoming the fourth country in six-nation South Asian subcontinent where ''war on terror'' has spawned new patterns of enforced disappearance.

The Amnesty Internationl (AI), observing the International Day of the Disappeared, said Pakistan has joined ranks with Sri Lanka, Nepal and India where people have become victims of enforced disappearance.

''South Asia has a history of enforced disappearances, with tens of thousands of people going missing over past decades in countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is very disappointing to see countries such as Pakistan join in a trend that one would hope would be declining," said Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International Catherine Baber.

''Enforced disappearance is a gross violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. It affects not only the victims but also takes a heavy toll on their families,'' she added.

Amnesty International believes that several hundreds of people have become victims of enforced disappearances in Pakistan in the context of the "war on terror".

In all cases, the families of the victims suffer emotionally, socially and financially, said the human rights watchdog.

Whilst many of those have eventually been acknowledged as being held in Guatanamo Bay, others are believed still to be held in Pakistani detention although their precise whereabouts remain unknown, it added.

In Pakistan, some people were released after receiving threats not to reveal details about their detention, while others were subsequently criminally charged.

In at least one case, the body of a victim of enforced disappearance was found six months after he had been captured.

The fate or whereabouts of many others remain unknown, the AI said .

The indifference shown to the enforced disappearance of terror suspects has contributed to its spread beyond "war on terror" related cases.

The enforced disappearance of members of other groups such as Baloch and Sindhi nationalists are now also being reported. Courts are swamped with habeas corpus petitions to determine victims' whereabouts, AI said.

''State agents routinely deny holding the victims or knowing anything about their fate or whereabouts,'' it said.

''People should be arrested and detained according to the law, not forced into a van in the middle of the night and swept off to an anonymous detention centre where they risk torture and further abuse,'' Ms Baber said.

Individuals have the right to challenge their detention, to see a lawyer of their choosing and talk to their families.

Families have a right to know where their relatives are,'' she added.

''Relatives are left to agonise over the fate of their loved ones in the face of official denials and contradictions.

They are harassed in their attempts to obtain information and face financial difficulties when the victim is the breadwinner,'' Ms Baber said.

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