HRCP says Musharraf's claim on missing persons 'absolutely untenable'

Lahore, Apr.29 (ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has termed claims of former President General Pervez Musharraf that almost all persons who have 'disappeared' in the past from the country have gone missing of their own will, is 'absolutely untenable'.

A commission statement said General Musharraf's claims that state agencies did not have any hand in the disappearance of people was far from the truth.

"While some individuals may have gone away on their own, the statement that all victims of enforced disappearances had gone missing voluntarily to join the jihad without informing their families is absolutely untenable. It contradicts undeniable evidence and numerous accounts of those who have regained freedom after being missing for various periods," the statement said.

HRCP Chairwoman Asma Jahangir said it was incongruous on the part of Musharraf to deny the role of government agencies, which was already proved by the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights.

"The civilised world no longer buys such versions. Whatever be the charges, they should be properly probed and documented and a legal course of action should be adopted," the committee said. (ANI)