Recovery of missing persons demanded

ISLAMABAD The relatives of the disappeared, who are continuously facing emotional, social, psychological and financial problems and at the same time they are being ignored by the quarters concerned, staged a protest rally at Radio Pakistan Chowk for recovery of their loved ones. Protesting against the Governments relaxed attitude in the recovery of the missing persons, the aggrieved families of the missing persons again gathered under the banner of the Defence of Human Rights Pakistan (DHRP). The office bearers of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and DHRP, students and distressed family members of the missing persons attended the protest rally. The participants of the rally was decided to hold peaceful protest in front of the US Embassy, but the administration did not allow them to gather in front of the Embassy. That is why, they gathered at Radio Pakistan Chowk and held protest with pictures of their missing relatives and lodge their protest. The protesters were of the view that the enemy of Pakistan was America and Pakistani Government must stand up against American. While holding placards and shouting anti-government and anti-US slogans, the protestors opined that the Government had promised to recover all missing persons but no positive signs have been given so far. They were also chanting slogans against the rulers for their silence over the issue of the missing persons and Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The participants of the rally said that they were not against any political party or institution and just wanted safe recovery of their relatives. The Government must take practical steps for the recovery of all the missing persons including Dr Aafia and Masood Janjua. While leading the rally of missing persons relatives, Amina Masood Janjua, Chairperson Defence of Human Rights (DHR) and wife of one of the missing persons Masood, demanded of the Government to recover their relatives otherwise they would hold protest rally in front of the US Embassy, Parliament and Supreme Court. She said that American Government is violating basic human rights, if it is a friend of Pakistan then it must prove it by releasing their relatives. It is something that we condemn, this is what we want to covey to American government by gathering in front of US Embassy, but instead of listening us, heavy police deployed to block our way, she said.

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