Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Thursday said the families of disappeared persons have lost their hope and are living a life of distress and despair.Commenting over the pain of the families, Geelani in a statement on the International Week of Disappeared Persons Day, said that it has added to their agony and it is sad that identity of those buried in unmarked graves is still a question and yet to be ascertained.
Expressing his sympathy with the affected families, he stressed for inquiry and fair investigations in the cases related to disappeared persons. “The affected families in order to find out the whereabouts of their near and dear ones are moving from pillar to post but of no avail,” he said.While discussing the role played by international community, Geelani expressed his dismay and said that they propound lip services and no concrete steps were provided in this regard till now. “During the last 23 years, ten thousand people were arrested and disappeared in force’s custody. Their close relatives are in a state of fix and no information with this regard is being provided to them,” he said.
Lashing out at state administration for their ‘irresponsible and negligent approach’, the Hurriyat (G) chairman alleged that authorities have maintained a criminal silence with respect to the disappeared persons and creates hurdles and harass those persons who on humanitarian basis are inquiring the related cases.
“Thousands of people have been subjected to enforced disappearance so far and equal numbers of unmarked graves have been discovered and the families whose members are missing are facing severe miseries and agonies. The uncertainty about identification of persons buried in these graves has cast serious concern for the concerned families,” he said. “Concerned families are serious enough about the identity of the persons buried in these graves and it is a matter of concern and depressing the families. Their future is bleak and this day reminds us to suggest and explore the ways and means so that their grievances are addressed and near and dear ones located.”
“It is their pending demand and we feel it the need of the hour to see that are lying in the unmarked graves and help them to trace their family members that disappeared in forced custody. It is a serious matter for us and administration should come with explanation about the disappeared persons,” Geelani said. “Without politicizing the issue, administration with categorical explanation should say who are the persons in those mass graves and explain whether the persons arrested were alive or died in their custody.”