Nationalist leaders condemn enforced disappearances

Urge courts, govt, elected representatives, media and civil society to ensure release of peaceful activists

HYDERABAD: Sindhi nationalist leaders have, in chorus, condemned the enforced disappearance of political and human rights workers, journalists and writers in Sindh.

"Instead of paying heed to the contentions of political workers, subjecting them to torture and harassment is a violation of human rights and democratic liberties," said Sindh Taraqi Pasand Chairperson Dr Qadir Magi.



Their reaction came after the recent disappearance of human rights campaigner Punhal Sario and a local daily newspaper editor, Inam Abbassi, from Hyderabad and Karachi respectively. Magsi alleged that Sindhis are being subjected to such tortuous suppression because of their political opinions concerning the provincial autonomy and control of natural resources.

"We strongly condemn this act of enforced disappearance." He went on to accuse the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led provincial government for failing to protect its subjects.

In his statement, Qaumi Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Latif Palijo said that activists and writers are subjected to this inhuman treatment because they exercise their internationally-acclaimed right of freedom of expression. "They are not terrorists, extortionists or militants. Their crime is only that they want a different political system, rights or control over the natural resources."



He urged the courts, government, elected representatives, media and civil society to support their demand for the release of Sario, Abbassi and other peaceful activists. "The party [PPP] that claims to have won the mandate from Sindh shouldn't limit its efforts for release of these people to lip service. It should approach all forums for safe recovery of these men," Palijo said.

"The people of Sindh are being whisked away as if Sindh isn't a part of Pakistan, but a colony," said Awami Jamhoori Party's leaders Inamullah Shaikh and Abrar Qazi while calling for the immediate release of all the missing men.

They demanded that the federal and Sindh governments ask the intelligence agencies to explain why these people are kept at secret places and not produced in the court of law for their alleged crimes.
Sindh Human Rights Defenders (SHRD) and civil society activists who protested in Hyderabad on Sunday for Sario's release, demanded that Pakistan should immediately ratify the United Nation's convention on enforced disappearances.



SHRD's advocate, Ali Palh, said all forums including the court, international human rights organisations and other stakeholders will be approached for the recovery of Sario.