Investigation demanded: HRCP fears for Sindh’s future

Commission condemns killing of JSMM activist Muneer Cholyani.

LAHORE: Concerned about the abduction and murder of the activist of the banned organisation, Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that the incident appeared to be the continuation of a disturbing trend in Sindh where individuals affiliated with nationalist groups and political parties were being targeted.

In a statement on Tuesday, the commission said that the HRCP condemns in the strongest terms the abduction and murder of Munir Cholyani, the JSMM media coordinator."

Cholyani, who had physical disabilities and was wheelchair-bound, was abducted when he was travelling along with his wife and daughter from their village in Larkana to Sun Town in Jamshoro district on May 29. Armed men in a white jeep followed their car and stopped them near Indus Highway.



According to his wife, the armed men dragged the political activist out of the car, brutally beat him and took him away. His body was found three hours later in Sehwan. Witnesses saw four men take Cholyani out of the jeep with his hands tied behind his back and shoot him in the head.

"The targeting of activists of nationalist parties in Sindh is reaching alarming proportions," said the statement. "Even more disturbing is the fact that the killers have not been arrested in any of these cases."

The JSMM has pointed fingers at state agents for Cholyani's murder, said the statement, adding that it is imperative that the charge is thoroughly investigated to the satisfaction of the party and the relatives, something which has not been done in any such case in Sindh.

Cholyani's nephew, Rooplo, was among three political activists assassinated in Sanghar in April 2011. Their bodies were afterwards placed in their car and the car was set on fire. The killers remain at large. An HRCP fact-finding conducted a fortnight after the killing shows that a thorough investigation had not been carried out right away.

"HRCP has little doubt that these killings are aimed at bringing Balochistan-like chaos to Sindh and the attempts must be resisted with full force," stated the commission.

"We are also certain that nothing will change without the government's strong resolve to end the blatant killings."

The commission called upon the federal and provincial governments, and the judiciary to take note of the targeting of political activists in Sindh and immediately institute a judicial inquiry to identify and punish the killers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2014.