August 25, 2025
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
On August 23, 2025, families of missing persons and victims of enforced disappearances, rights activists, lawyers, and political figures gathered in the capital city on Saturday evening for the debut screening of “20 Years Without Masood: A Family’s Fight for Justice”, a new documentary highlighting the two-decade struggle of Defence of Human Rights (DHR) Chairperson Amina Masood Janjua.
The film, produced by Mukalma Consulting, tells the story of Amina’s tireless search for her husband, Masood Janjua, who disappeared on July 30, 2005. Blending powerful visuals with personal testimonies, the documentary follows Amina and her daughter Aishah as they recount the anguish of not knowing Masood’s fate and the strength it took to fight for his return. The narrative extends beyond one family’s pain to reflect the suffering of thousands of families across Pakistan who continue to demand truth and accountability from the state.
The screening was attended by Justice Athar Minallah, Senator Afnanullah Khan, former senator Afrasiab Khattak, human rights defenders Shireen Mazari, Imaan Mazari, Tahira Abdullah, and Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch, along with journalists, students, and members of civil society.
Speaking to the audience, Amina vowed that she and others would continue their campaign until every missing person is returned. “For the last 20 years we have not given up, we will not ever give up, till Masood and all the disappeared of Pakistan are back,” she said.
Justice Athar Minallah underlined the responsibility of state institutions to act decisively.
“The responsibility to resolve these violations lies on each and every state institution, be it the Parliament, Senate or judiciary. Enforced disappearance is one of the worst current human rights violations, and under Article 184, every judge is responsible for taking up this issue,” he said.
Former senator and rights activist Farhatullah Babar called the two decades since Masood’s disappearance “a frozen time” for the Janjua family.
“Generations change in twenty years, but for Amna and Aisha the last two decades have remained frozen. I want to compliment Amna because she has transformed her personal agony into strength for all families of the disappeared. This has never happened before in Pakistan. Let us hope and pray for the day when no mother will grieve over a missing son,” he said.
Sammi Deen Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, drew parallels between Amina’s story and her own. Her father, Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch, a medical officer, was abducted in June 2009 and remains missing.
“This documentary reflects everyone’s story, everyone’s trauma. Every daughter, every mother, every sister suffers when their loved one disappears. Enforced disappearance does not see any community or nationality — it is every family’s pain. That is why it is the responsibility of each individual to speak up against this crime, she urged.
Saima Sajjad, whose husband went missing in 2016, said her struggle as a single mother of three eventually led to a landmark court ruling.
“Never did I think that one day, after 10 years, my case would be quoted to help other families. Although my husband has not returned, I am thankful that Allah gave me the strength to file a case and face the world. My message to all victim families is: do your part, however small, because maybe you are a cog in a bigger plan that will one day bring justice,” she said.
Thousands missing says DHR
Since its inception in 2006, DHR has documented 3,140 cases of enforced disappearance in Pakistan. Of these, 1,778 have been traced, while 1,362 people remain missing. The organisation has filed more than 40 petitions in High Courts and one consolidated petition in the Supreme Court covering 749 pending cases, including that of Masood Janjua.