BLLF PAKISTAN: Find all missing people, The Supreme Court(SC) tells govt

Friday, February 16, 2007

Find all missing people, The Supreme Court(SC) tells govt

Find all missing people, SC tells govt

* AG says Amina Masud’s husband could not be found despite repeated efforts
* Court adjourns hearing till March 8 on AG’s request
By Mohammad Kamran
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued fresh directions to the government to speed up the process of finding missing people.
The case took an unexpected turn when complainant Amina Masud, whose husband is among the missing people, told the court that a human rights lawyer had seen a number of people, including her husband, in the custody of intelligence agencies.
Amina Masud, who is also leading a protest campaign by families of the missing people, said that Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan’s statement that the government was progressing on the case was false, and accused the government of covering up illegal detentions.
The attorney general told the court that Amina’s husband Masud Janjua had not been found in the custody of any intelligence agency. He said that the government had failed to trace Janjua despite repeated efforts.
Amina challenged Khan’s statement and presented in court a reported interview of human rights lawyer CM Farooq who claimed to have seen some of the missing people, including Masud Janjua, Faisal Faraz, Attiqur Rehman, Muhammad Altaf, Hafiz Abdul Basit, Obaidullah, Hafiz Idrees Abbasi and Gul Muhammad, in the detention cells of the intelligence agencies.
CM Farooq had also been taken into custody by the intelligence agencies for supporting the families of the missing people, but was released after two weeks. He had filed an affidavit in the SC, saying that he had seen the missing people in intelligence agencies’ custody.
The attorney general informed the court that he held a meeting at his office on Wednesday, but CM Farooq had refused to attend the meeting, NNI reported.
Amina Masud said that the intelligence agencies had also picked up two persons, Masood and Mudasir, for supporting the families of the missing people.
The attorney general told the SC that computer expert Muhammad Mansoor and businessman Malik Zulfiqar had been detained under the Security of Pakistan Act 1952. They were picked up by the intelligence agencies in March 2005 and June 2006, he added.
He said that Alim %

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\02\16\story_16-2-2007_pg1_2

BLLF’s development during 40 years of struggle:

BLLF’s development during 40 years of struggle: From 1967 to 1995 the government and ruling classes never accepted child labour in Pakistan. After 1995 they accepted that there are 3.3 millions child labourers in Pakistan. Up to 1995 the informal school system was not acceptable in Pakistan and it was not allowed. The state used to fine 100 Rs (about 2 Euro) per school per day. The general concept was that the segregated class children had no future and they are good for nothing and they cannot get education. Education was not compulsory in any Province of Pakistan and corporal punishment was legal in every Province. The government had no priority regarding education policy. BLLF has started their school system in the 80s and spread an Apna-school network all over the country through its program “Struggle Against Slavery Through Education” and the issue of slave child labour and child labour was highlighted through BLLF’s actions and has up to now freed children from slavery and educated more than 10 000 children. The result of this is that in two Provinces, in Punjab and Sindh, the compulsory primary education is introduced. In Frontier the legislation is on the table, while the fourth Province, Baluchistan, is waiting for a change. The government also stopped the corporal punishment in two Provinces, Punjab and Sindh. Sindh government also prescribed 100 Rs stipend per year for every child in school, that is nothing but anyhow it is a sign of change and acceptance. They also introduced the Parent’s committee-concept, which has never been used before BLLF started up this concept. BLLF has faced a lot of difficulties and threats from the government and the ruling classes during the years but the struggle from darkness to lightness is proceeding. From 1967 to 1995 the government and ruling classes never accepted child labour in Pakistan. After 1995 they accepted that there are 3.3 millions child labourers in Pakistan. Up to 1995 the informal school system was not acceptable in Pakistan and it was not allowed. The state used to fine 100 Rs (about 2 Euro) per school per day. The general concept was that the segregated class children had no future and they are good for nothing and they cannot get education. Education was not compulsory in any Province of Pakistan and corporal punishment was legal in every Province. The government had no priority regarding education policy. BLLF has started their school system in the 80s and spread an Apna-school network all over the country through its program “Struggle Against Slavery Through Education” and the issue of slave child labour and child labour was highlighted through BLLF’s actions and has up to now freed children from slavery and educated more than 10 000 children. The result of this is that in two Provinces, in Punjab and Sindh, the compulsory primary education is introduced. In Frontier the legislation is on the table, while the fourth Province, Baluchistan, is waiting for a change. The government also stopped the corporal punishment in two Provinces, Punjab and Sindh. Sindh government also prescribed 100 Rs stipend per year for every child in school, that is nothing but anyhow it is a sign of change and acceptance. They also introduced the Parent’s committee-concept, which has never been used before BLLF started up this concept. BLLF has faced a lot of difficulties and threats from the government and the ruling classes during the years but the struggle from darkness to lightness is proceeding.

BLLF PAKISTAN

Friday, February 16, 2007

Find all missing people, The Supreme Court(SC) tells govt

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BLLF’s development during 40 years of struggle:

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