–Haji Abdul Ghafoor from Charsadda remains missing in KSA for two years
ISLAMABAD: Despite a lapse of around two years, the government has failed to ensure the release of an 80-year-old pilgrim allegedly detained by the authorities in Saudi Arabia.
Haji Abdul Ghafoor Khan s/o Haji Ghandal Khan, an illiterate octogenarian belonging to Masood Khel village in Charsadda district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), went missing on August 18, 2016, when he left home for Medina from Peshawar Airport at 03:15 pm through flight PK2301. He reached Medina on the same day but has not returned till date.
Imdad Ullah Khyal, son of the missing haji, who is working as an executive secretary at OGRA in the Cabinet Division wrote to Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mushahid Hussain Syed and Opposition Leader Sherry Rehman to appeal for the recovery of his father Haji Ghafoor who, from what he claims, is in the alleged illegal custody of the KSA forces.
He said that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Pakistan House Medina failed to trace his father despite repeated requests “which speaks volumes of their incompetence and incapability” regarding the security of the pilgrims.
“I request you to rescue Haji Abdul Ghafoor Khan who has been enforced disappeared for the past two years. There has been a complete denial by the Saudi state authorities regarding Abdul Ghafoor Khan’s whereabouts despite numerous sighting reports of him being detained by the state forces,” the letter reads.
Imdad said that on August 18, 2016, Ghafoor left home for Medina from Peshawar Airport at 03:15 pm and reached Medina on the same day but not returned to-date. He stated, “There have been no charges against our missing father except altercation with police at gate no 20 of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Reasons for his enforced disappearances are unknown.”
He said that initially they were kept in complete darkness, but later learnt through other former detainees that Abdul Ghafoor was kept in detention somewhere in Medina.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Imdad Ullah Khyal said that he knocked at every door to ensure his safe recovery, but they have yet to get the good news.
“We have sent several appeals, WhatsApp messages, emails, and fax to the president, prime minister, chief justice of supreme court and high courts, COAS, DG ISI, DG IB, foreign minister, minister for religious affairs, Pakistani ambassador in KSA, KSA ambassador in Pakistan, DG and director Hajj, KSA King, regional and foreign human rights organisations and media persons but all in vain,” he added.
He said that the officials concerned merely gave him assurances of his father’s early recovery but took no tangible steps for his said task. “On January 11, 2018, a number of officials from Military Intelligence (MI) under supervision of a subedar came to our residence, took complete biodata and information of our entire family and informed us that a fake case of sectarian charges has been registered against your father,” he told Pakistan Today.
He further said, “I urge you to take immediate steps to save my father’s life and liberty, and arrange his early and safe return to country.”
Imdad revealed that the case of his missing father was discussed in the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony on February 24, 2017, through public petition no 1667 addressed to the Senate Chairman.
He said that the family has been passing through great ordeal for the last two years, requesting the government to take solid steps in ensuring his recovery.
