Amnesty seeks immediate release of forcibly disappeared people.

ISLAMABAD -- Amnesty International has urged the government to immediately release forcibly disappeared people or promptly bring them before a judge in a civil court of law to prove the lawfulness of their arrest or detention.

In a report titled, 'Braving the Storm: Enforced Disappearances and the Right to Protest', released on Thursday, the human rights watchdog said the government should immediately inform all detainees of the reasons for their arrest or detention and provide them with full information about their rights, including prompt access to a lawyer to challenge the legality of their detention.

'The government should ensure that prompt, thorough, independent and impartial criminal investigations are conducted into all allegations of enforced disappearances. Where sufficient admissible evidence exists, prosecute those suspected of criminal responsibility in civilian courts in proceedings that conform to international fair trial standards.

'Any independent and impartial investigation would preclude state agencies accused of involvement in alleged violations from investigating their own personnel or affiliates,' the human rights watchdog said.

'The government should also ensure that...