ISLAMABAD- Relatives and sympathizers of missing persons, led by rights activist Amna Masood Janjua, vowed to continue their protest at Islamabad's D-Chowk today.
A large number of protesters including children, elders and women are continuing their protest on the second day for the recovery of their beloved family members. The demonstrators said that they had high hopes that the present government would be able to recover the missing relatives, instead the protesting relatives were subjected to torture by the police force. They demanded that a case should be initiated in the court, if their relatives had been charged, but to keep them away from their families without any news is tormenting for the families.
On Monday, police came out in full force against the protests. The law-enforcers used teargas shells and baton charged the protestors, including women. At least 12 protestors, Defence of Human Rights (DHR) chief Amna Masood Janjua among them, were detained after being rough handled by police. The situation prompted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to taken notice of the crackdown. The PM expressed his dismay at police baton-charge and ordered release of protestors, including Janjua. Meanwhile, Janjua held Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar responsible for the situation, saying that police would not take such extreme step without the orders of top officials. She opposed sacking of police officers due to the crackdown, and vowed to continue the sit-in unless her meeting with Prime Minister. The protestors gathered at the same spot today and continued the protest, chanting slogans against the government.