ISLAMABAD: Defence of Human Rights and Chairperson wife of Masood Ahmed Janjua, commemorated the 17th year of the disappearance of Masood Janjua on Saturday. He is a true patriot, educator, businessman, loving father, kind husband, and a great friend to many.

According to a statement issued by Defense of Human Rights Pakistan (DHR), the movement of Enforced Disappearances started with the disappearance of Masood Janjua and his friend Faisal Faraz from Rawalpindi. Masood Ahmed Janjua, a businessman from Rawalpindi, “disappeared” on 30 July 2005, while traveling on a bus to Peshawar with his friend Engineer Faisal Faraz, from Lahore. His mysterious disappearance could not be accounted for initially but later on, specific evidence convinced Masood Janjua’s wife, Amina Masood Janjua that he had been picked up by the intelligence agency of the country. It was further established through the statement of one Dr. Imran Munir who remained in the custody of the military. Dr. Imran, in an official statement given to the government functionaries, testified that he had seen Masood Ahmed Janjua in a secret detention center.

“I can die but not give up the struggle to trace my loving husband Masood. When I look back and realize that 17 years have passed searching for Masood, my nerves shatter and the intensity of the dagger-like pain increases, however, I also become thankful that a struggle started in Masood’s name has brought thousands of disappeared loved ones home and united countless broken-hearted families. Every time I hear good news, it gives me hope, strength, and courage to keep going and is my greatest reward. I will never forget Masood or give up hope for his safe and sound return no matter what happens” says the wife of Masood Janjua, Chairperson Amina Masood Janjua on the 17th year of his disappearance.

In October 2006, Pakistan Supreme Court of Pakistan judges began hearing Masood Janjua and Faisal Faraz’s case. Several other persons subjected to enforced disappearances testified to seeing both men in detention. Their cases were pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan however; state officials deny their detention and all knowledge of their whereabouts to date in the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance CoIoED as well. The last update on the case of Masood Janjua came from his wife, Amina Janjua: “On 16th October 2018 while I was in Berlin attending a UDHR’s 70th-anniversary activities, Masood’s case was heard by a special bench in Supreme Court of Pakistan and within 5 minutes the honourable Judges transferred all the cases of Disappeared including Masood Janjua’s to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance CoIoED.”

At that time a categorical order should have been passed in tracing the famous businessman and educator from Rawalpindi. The judge vehemently comforted the petitioner that justice will be done, but did not pass any order. After four days of that hearing, the judge heading the bench, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, was retired from the Supreme Court.

The struggle to find the truth, justice, and freedom for Masood Janjua continues as the family and human rights defenders remember him in the 17th year of his disappearance. The human rights community around the globe keep raising their voice in solidarity.

The Defence of Human Rights organisation, family, friends and the global human rights community demands immediate release and justice for Masood Janjua and his friend Faisal Faraz. Defence of Human Rights Pakistan demands the government to end these 17 years of torture and bring back Masood Janjua and all the enforced disappeared of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan is committed to combating the menace of human trafficking by establishing an effective coordination infrastructure to prosecute traffickers and protect victims.

This was stated by President Dr. Arif Alvi in his message on the occasion of World Day Against Human Trafficking observed on Saturday.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on the 30th of July to raise awareness regarding the plight of victims of human trafficking and to promote and protect their rights. The day is observed to bring attention to a crime that leaves a lasting toll on human lives and society as a whole. He said that it is one of the most serious human rights violations that brings high profits to traffickers through the exploitation of human beings by illegal means such as force, fraud, or deception.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that Pakistan has embarked upon stringent anti-trafficking measures to enforce legal frameworks in line with international standards. Pakistan has enacted the Trafficking in Person Act, 2018 to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children. This law prescribes imprisonment of up to ten years for the perpetrators of such illegal acts. He said that National Coordination Committee on Human Trafficking has been constituted under the Chair of the Minister for Interior. He said that the Committee is responsible for steering national efforts in the fight against all forms of human trafficking, including bonded labour and sex trafficking.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that all relevant departments at the provincial level including Social Welfare, Labour, Police, Child Protection and NGOs are made part of Provincial and District Anti-Human Trafficking Committees for close coordination to effectively identify and protect victims of human trafficking.

President Dr. Arif Alvi said that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has prepared National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (2021-2025). The action plan highlights the roles of different stakeholders and provides a holistic framework for the national response, he said.

“I would take this opportunity to extend my appreciation and acknowledgement to the federal and provincial governments and all other relevant stakeholders who came together to fight this crime”

President Dr. Arif Alvi said.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says government is implementing a special emergency plan to improve anti-polio response.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said this in a tweet on Saturday, while expressing concern over the increase in number of confirmed polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Alluding to his recent telephonic conversation with Bill Gates, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its valuable support in the public health and social sector programmes in Pakistan.

Earlier, in a telephonic conversation with Bill Gates, the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, he affirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen fruitful partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in all ongoing areas of cooperation.

The Prime Minister appreciated the valuable support extended by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Pakistan in polio eradication and improving immunization, nutrition and financial inclusion in the country.

He said the government is committed to eradicate polio from the country by strengthening operations at all levels of the polio eradication program.

He said providing safety and security to all members of the polio program, especially the frontline workers, would be his government’s high priority.

Bill Gates reiterated the Foundation’s continued support to Pakistan to protect them from the risk of paralysis due to polio virus.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has lauded the security forces for conducting successful operation against the terrorists in district Kech.

In a statement issued on Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif condoled with the bereaved family of Havaldar Hidayat Ullah, who embraced martyrdom in the operation and prayed for early recovery of the injured, Naik Mir Muhammad.

Shehbaz Sharif said Havaldar Hidayat Ullah embraced shahadat for the country and the entire nation salutes to its martyrs.

According to ISPR, six terrorists were killed in the operation which was conducted in Hoshab area on information regarding movement of the terrorist group on motorcycles towards Panjgur from Kech.

A large cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the terrorists.

During the engagement, Havaldar Hidayat Ullah embraced shahadat while Naik Mir Muhammad was injured.