Missing MQM workers: Families still wait for their loved ones to return

Some of them disappeared almost two decades ago, others more recently.

KARACHI:

A new born turns a year-and-half without having ever seen his dad. A newly-wed travels all the way to Hyderabad and rummages through bodies in the morgue to try and find her missing husband. A man goes to different jails across the country, inquiring about his missing younger brother.

On Saturday, these moving accounts were told by the families of the missing workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). To mark the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the aggrieved persons gathered outside Karachi Press Club to protest, also addressing a press conference later inside the press club’s premises.

According to the party, 45 of its workers are missing. From 1992 to 1996, 25 men went missing and 20 others have disappeared since the targeted operation started last September. The families blame law enforcement agencies for the enforced disappearances.

Waiting for their son

Noor Jahan and Abdul Salam stood with the protesters, tears silently rolling down their cheeks. Their son, Asif Ahmed, went missing on December 1, 1995 and they have not seen him since.

“It has been almost 19 years,” said his mother. “I don’t know what state he is in or even if he is alive. But I remember everything about him; from the time he was born till the last time I saw him.”

Ahmed was 18 when he went missing from his home in Korangi. On that fateful day, almost two decades ago, he was called outside by someone but never returned. A neighbour later claimed that he was seen being forced into a vehicle by law enforcers.

In search of his brother

Nasir Ali’s only brother, Riasat Ali, disappeared the same year as Ahmed. For his brother’s recovery, he has visited the Adiala, Mach and Sukkur jails, hoping against hope that he will find him some day.

“I have given thousands of rupees to pirs and religious personalities who promised me that they will make my brother return, but he never did,” said Nasir, his voice quivering. “At the very least, we want the authorities to tell us the truth. Tell us if he is dead. Just don’t keep us in the dark.”

The recent disappearances

Amongst the protesters were also those whose loved ones were picked up in recent months. Nazia clutched her toddler in her arms, saying that her son has only pictures of his father. “Everyone saw my husband being picked up by law enforcers from the passport office,” she said. “Why don’t they just admit it then?”

Missing person Syed Kareemuddin’s brother also said that he was picked up by law enforcement agencies. “If he is a criminal, produce him in court and if the court finds him guilty then sentence him, but don’t keep us waiting for him to return one day.”

The press conference

“After meeting these families, no one can say that the pain of the families whose loved ones have been missing for 20 years is bigger than those whose loved ones disappeared last year,” said the head of MQM’s committee on enforced disappearances, Babar Anis.

Anis appealed to Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal to resume the proceedings of the judicial commission formed on enforced disappearances in Karachi, as well as to the government to take steps for their recovery. Anis also asked the Supreme Court to take a suo motu notice of those who have gone missing in the past two years. He also requested the party’s Rabita Committee to start a series of protests to highlight this issue. “We also appeal to the UN’s working group on enforced disappearances to take notice and help the state recover the missing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2014.