Pak senators table bill in Senate against forced detention by intelligence agencies

Islamabad, Nov.27 (ANI): Senior Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leaders have submitted a bill on missing persons to the Senate, blaming the state intelligence agencies for the mysterious disappearance of hundreds of persons.

The bill, which is signed by senators Khurshid Ahmad, Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Aafiya Zia, seeks curtailment of powers of the intelligence agencies, saying the forced disappearance of people has acquired a form of 'state terrorism'.

"Forced disappearance through intelligence agencies has taken the form of state terrorism as hundreds of Pakistanis are allegedly kept in the custody of state agencies without giving them any opportunity of being heard at any judicial forum while their families know nothing about their whereabouts," The Dawn quoted the bill, as saying.

The bill states that the person arrested under preventive detention must be informed about the charges levelled against him 'as soon as possible and not later than one week'.

It also proposed setting up of a Review Board for hearing cases related to such forced detentions and added that the board should be headed by sitting judges of the superior judiciary in order to ensure transparency and impartiality. (ANI)