Tablighi Jamaat members: Eight Pakistanis languishing in Eritrean jail since 1993
The families of eight members of a Tablighi Jamaat that went missing in Eritrea in 1993 have urged the government and human rights bodies to help in their release from an Eritrean prison.
Tablighi Jamaat, an apolitical reformist religious organisation working at grassroot level sends jamaats or preaching missions across the world. In Pakistan its headquarters are in Raiwind near Lahore. The movements of the jamaats are called tashkeel or formation and are documented.
The eight missing Pakistanis from Shabqadar, Mohmand Agency and Peshawar went on a preaching mission to Africa on June 16, 1993. According to files in Tablighi Markaz (centre), their tashkeel was Jamaat No 49 which included, Mian Muhammad as their amir or leader, Itbar Khan, Mirza Khan, Hunar Sher, Sher Mohammad, Hafiz Saeed, Naushad Khan and Habibullah. The jamaat went first to Addis Ababa then Djibouti and from there they entered Eritrea and reached Asmara, the Eritrean capital.
In his letter to his sons in Peshawar, Mian Muhammad, the leader of the jamaat, wrote that they reached Asmara and were staying at Khalid bin Walid Mosque. They were last heard of on November 13, 1993.
Eretria had gained independence in 1993 after a bloody struggle with Ethiopia and mass scale persecution of Muslims was going on in that country at that time.
“We tried hard to approach our government for their release, but we were told that Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Eritrea, (so) we failed,” Malik Said, son of one of the missing persons Mirza Khan, told The Express Tribune.
The first appeal for intervention was made when Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister and Farooq Leghari the president, according to a copy of the application made available to The Express Tribune.
Sher Muhammad’s son Bahram Khan said that they are hoping human rights activist Ansar Burney would help them as he had helped in the release of Pakistanis from Somali pirates.
The family members of the missing jamaat said that in a letter written in 1998, a human rights activist Dastagher Nori of the Arab Study Society had told Dr Malik Muhammad Shah that he had visited the Tablighi Jamaat detainees in jail.
According to a letter from international human rights information centre Jerusalem, these Pakistanis were serving a life sentence in prison and were victims of human rights violations rife in Eritrea.
In this regard, a letter was also sent from the Pakistani embassy in Jeddah to the foreign office in Islamabad, which forwarded the letter to the Africa desk for further action. Qari Arshad, son of detained Pakistani Hunar Sher said he had met the Director General Africa desk in Islamabad and urged him to use his office for the release of Pakistanis languishing in the Eritrean jail.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2012.
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we appeal ansar burney to to some thing for the release of these poor people
So sad and heart breaking story- I am really wondering why Raiwind (Tableeghi Jaamaa't) has not done any thing in this regard? The poor families of the victims have been running after the governemnt and non government people to help them whereas, the ones who did the "tashkeel" and sent them to Africa are not bothered with the plight of victims and their families. Are they only responsible for "Tashkeel"? Whereas, we know, they have all the right connections not only with the Pakistani establishment but also all over the world and could have used their clout to help these poor people, jailead in Eritrea since 1993.
I urge govt of Pakistan to make every effort and use every diplomatic relation to get these harmless and innocent people back. They sacrificed their 19 years in the way of ALLAH and i am sure that ALLAH SWT will reward them.
May ALLAH protect them and their families.
The Government and politicians of Pakistan are shamelessly useless and corrupt; they will never help these people. Only someone like Ansar Burney can help them now.
And Alhamdulillah I contacted his office in London today and was informed that this news has already reached him and he has begun working on this case.
I pray for his success in releasing these people and bringing them back to their homes and families after nearly two decades.
@mussie: can one help their relative in their search? they wants to knows about them whether they alive or died.
They are probably kiled by the Eritrean regime. I know how the regime is, because I am from there. The killed so many people of thier own.
I have tweeted this story to Mr Ansar Burney at @AnsarBurney . he is trying to help them, but as Humans and Muslims we all should try to play our part and should try to help them.
It don't matter if a local political party has any benefit from gaining the release of Pak citizen from Eritrea, but nevertheless Pakistan has a great opportunity on hand, without any threat in return, to regain it's political and diplomatic standing on world stage by following the course England took. We don't have to make friend with the Eritrean dictator in the process, but actually it's the opposite.We must show him we will be a nightmare if he don't release our citizen in two weeks time. Besides, who knows what vulnerable state he is going through right now? We must not waste anymore time or offer any reward to this lawless dictator, or it will happen again at some other place, far or near. It's a high time our leaders show Pak Citizens they care. May be it's an excellent opportunity for our brass too, to prove their importance in foreign policy matters..
@A: No where in the article says they were detained "just for being Muslims". So get your facts right before commenting. Fyi, Eritrea is a half-Muslim-country.
There is NO law in Eritrea. There is NO constitution in Eritrea period. The country is ruled by a DICTATOR under his iron fist. He is putting people in jail for no reason. And you can't ask any questions.
I think I can help the Tabligees - I have contacts with that country. They can get in touch with me on my mobile in Saudi Arabia. This is my number: 0966 (0)554107479
Shazada Zahid M Malik
But Pakistan has diplomatic relations with Eritrea contrary to what the article says, few years ago the president of Eritrea visited Islamabad This is the address of Eritrean embassy in Islamabad ERITREA EMBASSY, House #28,Street #33,F-8/1
This is shocking and unbelievable that eight poor Pakistanis are languishing in prison of a foreign country for the last 20 years and the government of Pakistan is a silent spectator. By the way, where is the tablighi jamaat and what is their role? Would they like to take any responsibility of the suffering of these 8 innocent people and their families? Don’t they have a responsibility to follow the case at national and international level and ensure release of their fellows? Don’t they think they have a responsibility towards the families of those colleagues? Come on………………….
Eritrea has all the right to detain this people. Muslim & Christian lived side by side for centuries. Any outsiders that comes to divide this harmony is punishable and deserve what they got. Weather they are Muslim or Christian period.
Pakistan fell short of some talent indeed. If these were some toiling workers we would have felt sorry.
It is sad. But the fact is they have violated the law and they have been punished. Just pray for their safety. Lesson learnt is "first correct yourself than people around you close to you and only after that go out for fascinating journeys and preaching others"
As per the Eterian constitution , foreign missionaries are not allowed. So they broke the law, and hence punished. And Pakistan should be the last country to lecture anyone on religious freedom.
Why did they choose to visit a country that has no diplomatic relation with Pakistan? Most certainly entered without visa, but why? If they went to spread God's word, then surely God will see to it that they return safely. What surprises me is, why he has taken 20 long years to do it.
Who told them to go to the Nation, which has no diplomatic relations with Pakistan ? That's he first sign of stupidity ! Did they actually have Passports or just decided to go for walk across the border to preach their version of Jihad ? Any way GOP of Pakistan does not have much clout in that region, but their so called assets do, so perhaps Islamabad may decide to invite them for tea and seek their advice !
@Bolshevik: But you should be sent to school for sure.
@Bolshevik: better get yourself brainwashed by Tony blair and George Bush for going after Iraqi weapons of Mass destruction..............people like you are shameless & full of negative propaganda
As long as they are not in India, there will be no response.
Terrorists like these deserve to rot in jail for brainwashing others.
This is a story of immense pain. Why have they been detained for almost 20 years now with no charges, just because of being muslims? The government of Pakistan should take this issue to the highest forum and get it resolved. To say that just because Pakistan doesn't have any diplomatic ties with this country, the government cannot do anything is criminal. They should take it to the UN, use other countries who do have diplomatic relations in this region etc, there are a hundred ways this can be resolved. I urge the NGOs and specially human rights activist Ansar Burney to help these poor people who went to Africa for the spreading the word of Islam. Today after more then 20 years they are still sitting in jail, this is the ultimate ordeal and should end as soon as possible.
Yes! President Zardari should look into the matter and should do something for them!
I am sure Pakistan has enough talents and contact to pull the strings of right persons and have them released, if make an honest effort. I request Pak leaders to work on this. These are harmless people.