Issue of Zardari’s missing friends dominates Sindh Assembly session

PPP leaders decry violation of human rights, MQM cries hypocrisy

KARACHI: The case of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari’s missing friends dominated the provincial assembly session, with lawmakers criticising the federal government and its agencies for violating human rights and victimising its opponents. In particular they alleged that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and intelligence agencies were responsible for the disappearances.

“One of the missing persons, Ghulam Qadir Marri, was picked up near Jamshoro by more than two dozen people in two separate vehicles. These people were using the walkie-talkie sets,” said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.



“This was not a kidnapping for ransom case. Our MPAs’ grievances and doubts that some elements have picked up them are genuine,” he said, adding that Ashfaq Leghari, another PPP leader who went missing from the Superhighway was picked on April 3 at 9:30pm from adjacent to the Darbar Hotel. “Some people in a Vigo Jeep took him into custody and fled,” said Shah, adding that the Sindh government has sought the help of the police and other agencies and has started geo-fencing the area.



“So far, we have not traced these people,” he said, adding that he would personally take up the missing persons’ case now.

“Article 10-A of the Constitution guarantees that missing persons picked by government agencies or the police must be produced in the court within 24 hours,” said the CM, adding that the country cannot be run without law and order.

“Please present them in court if they are involved in any case,” he said, adding that Marri is suffering from cancer and his kidnappers would be held responsible if anything happens to him. "His family and friends anxiously and patiently await his safe return or just to hear news of his whereabouts," he said.



The CM also referred to the case of former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, another close friend of Zardari, and said, "Dr Asim was arrested and kept in custody for 19 months and many cases were registered against him.  This is a case study of political victimisation," he accused.

Responding to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members, Shah said, “We are against any kind of disappearance of political activists”. He claimed that no one from the party had approached him regarding missing persons after the August 22 incident, adding that cases have been registered against MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar but government has not taken action against him and instead provided him a chance to obtain bail.

MQM’s Zafar Kamali drew the attention of the house towards the MQM’s protests on this issue and said, "We have been protesting for the last three years about the kidnapping of our workers”.



He added that, “Whenever we raised this issue in the assembly, the speaker did not allow us to speak and the PPP government turned a blind eye to this issue. Now, the same issue is being discussed apparently because your own leaders have been picked up”.

 Praying for their return

Earlier, PPP MPA Khairunisa Mughal raised the issue and said that three persons, including Marri, Ashfaq and Nawab Leghari, have gone missing.  She said this during the fateha session and requested all the members to pray for their safe return. The MQM members also prayed for the recovery of their workers who went missing during the Karachi operation.

An interesting situation developed in the house when Pakistan Muslim Leaague – Nawaz member Sorath Thebo stood up and offered prayers for Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja. "He is an honest officer but some people want to remove him. May Allah give patience and strength to the PPP government to reconsider its decision," she said.



 Jufelhurst school resolution

The Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the provincial government take action against the culprits involved in the demolition of Jufelhurst Government School. The resolution was moved by MQM parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed “The government should reconstruct this as model school,” Ahmed said, adding that those responsible for demolishing the school should be punished and should fund its reconstruction.