UN human rights experts welcomed today the disclosure by the Pakistani Government of the whereabouts of Idris Khattak, a
leading human rights defender who went missing last year, yet strongly condemned his enforced disappearance.
Khattak was last seen on 13 November 2019 after security agents stopped his car near the Swabi Interchange in the
northernmost province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On 16 June 2020, the Pakistani authorities acknowledged for the first time
that he has been in the custody of law enforcement authorities and detained incommunicado since then.
“The enforced disappearance of Mr. Khattak, which began over seven months ago, is an intolerable attack on his
legitimate work of monitoring, documenting and advocating against a range of human rights and minority violations in the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan,” the independent experts said.
“We are extremely concerned by the authorities’ continued practice of enforced disappearance, leaving thousands of cases
unresolved in the country. We call for a prompt and impartial investigation into the abduction and incommunicado
detention of Mr. Khattak, and for the prosecution of those responsible,” the experts said.
The experts condemned the widespread silencing of human rights defenders through intimidation, secret detention, torture
and enforced disappearance, whether with the direct involvement of the Pakistani government, or with its complicity or
complacency.
“Even today, Mr. Khattak remains deprived of the most basic protections of the law, and his enforced disappearance
subjected him and his family to severe and prolonged suffering, that could amount to torture,” the experts said. “Given
the arbitrariness of Mr. Khattak’s arrest and detention, and the very serious violations of his integrity and procedural
rights, we call on the Government of Pakistan to immediately release Mr. Khattak and to provide him and his family with
adequate redress and rehabilitation,” said the experts.
Pakistan has a long history of enforced disappearances, many of which have targeted human rights and minority defenders
critical of the Government and the military, as well as persons suspected or accused of involvement in the opposition.
While successive Governments have promised to criminalise enforced disappearance, none has taken concrete steps and the
practice continues with impunity.
The experts stressed that there can be no justification for the Government’s failure to end enforced disappearances and
that any such violation must be investigated, prosecuted and punished.
“Truth and justice must be served, both in the case of Idris Khattak and for countless other victims and their families
in Pakistan. State-sponsored disappearances and related impunity may amount to a crime against humanity and must end
now,” they said.
The experts have taken note that Pakistan`s Commission on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has been seized of the
case and call on the Commission to ensure accountability. The experts will continue to engage with the Pakistani
authorities to assist them in eradicating this horrendous practice and to closely monitor the situation.