PPP demands safe recovery of journalist Mudassar Naru

Islamabad: PPPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar has expressed grave concern over the state’s apathy towards the disappearance of journalist, writer and active progressive voice on social media Mudasar Naru three years ago and called for his safe recovery urgently.

Journalist Mudassar disappeared on this day three years ago. A few months ago his artist wife Sadaf Chughtai also passed away due to pressure leaving behind their 3-year old son Sachal at the mercy of circumstances.

He was speaking at a protest demonstration in front of National Press Club in Islamabad Friday evening organized by civil society networks to mark the third anniversary of disappearance of Mudassar Naru.

He said that the disappearance of Mudassar Naru should have been a matter of deep concern to the state institutions and not only to his family, civil society and the literary community at large. But the law enforcing agencies refused to trace his whereabouts and even refused to register FIR for over three months. Despite two years of hearings before the Commission on Enforced Disappearances there has been no progress in the case.

The silence and apathy of state institutions highlights the impunity of the crime of enforced disappearances in the country, he said

He warned that if urgent course correction measures were not taken the international community might be forced to take notice of the growing impunity of the crime.

Like FATF it can become yet another albatross around the neck, he warned

He said that it was alarming that neither the Parliament, nor the judiciary nor any civilian government was able to do anything about it.

He said that the impunity of crime was frightening as not a single perpetrator had been held to account.

He said that Chairman Disappearances Commission had admitted before the Senate committee on Human Rights in August 2018 that 153 security personnel were involved and demanded that their names be made public and action taken.