Pakistan Think Tank supports democracy and human rights in Pakistan. We love our country. We despise our past and present undemocratic rulers and dictators. Musharraf is one such dictator, who is culpable in the disappearance of thousands of Pakistanis. We recall that at one time, in Islamabad, the mere accusation of being religiously oriented, would result in disappearance forever. Thus thousands of Pakistanis who sported a beard or women who adopted hijab disappeared without a trace. The most famous among them are Mr.Masood Janjua and Afia Siddique. Mrs. Amina Janjua, and Fauzia Siddique like Florence Nightingale are keeping the memory of their loved ones alive. US public has had first hand experience in keeping the candle alight for its with “missing soldiers” in North Vietnam. How can US public allow this travesty of justice happen to the “missing Pakistanis.” The US people should ask their government and their allies in the Zardari government to account for the “missing Pakistanis.” Or are Pakistanis cheap and expendable? US is a nation with a concience, it should ask, nay demand to know the whereabouts of the “missing Pakistanis.” Pakistan’s “missing persons,” were abducted and never given due process, a fundamental human right. Their rights were flagrantly violated. The “abduction squads,” who kidnapped them either took their lives or collected $5,000 bounty by handing them to a foriegn nation as terrorists. Is this allowed in a civilized world, we live in? Modern nations are governed by laws and each accused has a basic right to due process which guarantees the following:
- Right to a fair and public trial conducted in a competent manner
- Right to be present at the trial
- Right to an impartial jury
- Right to be heard in one’s own defense
- Laws must be written so that a reasonable person can understand what is criminal behavior
This is a story of a simple Pakistani housewife and her children to find her husband and their father. She is a thorn in the concience of Pakistani agencies. Under their new leadership of democratically oriented General Kayani, it is incumbent upon him to listen to the lamentations, nay, “faryaad,” of this hapless woman. All, Pakistanis should feel a sense of outrage against Musharraf, who turned out to be worse than the drunkard Yahya Khan. Musharraf may live in comfort in West London. But, his name will live in infamy in the history of Pakistan…PTT
Guernica Magazine
