INDEPENDENCE DAY CANDLE LIT CAMP

AND

EXHIBITION BY MISSING PERSON’S FAMILIES.

In connection with campaign “Release before Ramazan” the families appeal to the government from the bottom of their heart to release their missing loved ones.

Aggrieved families of missing persons along with their children displayed love and gratitude for their homeland in a unique manner.

Children of Missing Persons exhibited art work. Beautiful paintings depicting their feelings, grief and disappointment at the most torturing forced separation of their families.

Children expected freedom for their fathers, uncles, and other loved ones too on the day when the whole nation is celebrating 62^nd year of freedom.

Delicate and sensitive rendering of colours, images and symbols like Pakistani flag were shown in paintings either with dark depressing colours or imprisoned in a jail. The innocent feelings of child when he imagines his father or a similar figure in detention on the day of independence is painfully visible. This is something children are not ready to accept or understand. Their heart cries: “why is our father/mother not free when the whole nation is free?” why they are missing? We give our life to our God gifted homeland but why doesn’t the government realizes it and give us back our loved ones; our happiness, our future and our life…..?

Can the government afford to disappoint the “Hope of its future” on the Independence Day….! Can the government ignore the small little hearts which are badly hurt and desperately begging for just one thing which is their basic fundamental right to enjoy the love and affection of their father?

They are only pleading for years without end in a most dignified way, for the safe release of their “Missing Loved Ones…..!

In fact the history of Pakistan and recollection of 14^th August 1947 teaches us a lot and throws light on the unimaginable sacrifices which were given at the birth of Pakistan; our precious country.

Quaid-e-Azam (Address to the Assembly of Pakistan 11^th August 1947) said, “If we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people.”

This is the message Missing persons families want to convey, while sitting in the candle lit vigil camp on the Jinnah Avenue today to the highest Authorities in Pakistan.

For God’s sake give relief and Justice to your poor Nation if you want prosperity, peace and progress in country.

The dignified Mothers, Daughters and Brave Children holding candles are lightening “Hope” and remembering their lost loved ones with tears rolling down their cheeks.

While the nation rejoices celebrating freedom on the Avenues and Highways, they silently weep and pray for the safe return of their Missing Loved Ones. Is happiness, freedom, reunion of families, Eids and celebrations not for them?

Day of Independence is also a day of Resolution, Assessment and Accountability. The government must show resolve to trace and release all its Missing Persons immediately. They should promise to the suffering Mothers, Daughters and Children of the Nation as an Independence day resolve that, their happiness and peace will be restored and that such a cruel Human Rights Violation will never happen to anyone in Pakistan.

Defence of Human Rights Pakistan

A Campaign for the Release of Missing Persons of Pakistan

40-C-1 Nagi road Westridge -1 Rawalpindi , Pakistan

051-5511687 , 051-5464805

Website; www.dhrpk.org

e-mail ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

13^th/14^th August 2009