Disappearances in Sindh and Balochistan (Pakistan)  

 

Just about everyday another activist is picked up by government authorities and held captive without access to fair law process. In the last few months as many as 250 people have disappeared from Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Those who witness the arrests report that it is the government authorities, sometimes disguised in civilian clothes, conducting the unjustified pick-ups. However when confronted the government denies any involvement. So the question remains unanswered, where did these people go? No one, not even their friends or family know. They are held captive in secret prisons, and tortured daily until death. Majority of the captives never even have charges brought against them or get a chance at a fair trial. They are simply abducted for supporting a nationalist movement group or/and opposing government views and projects. After their death their bodies are not released to their families, instead they are buried like a piece of garbage in a hidden mass grave.

 

Recently Dr. Sarki, one of key members of the Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz group and Allah Ditto also known under his pen name as Asif Baladi, president of the Sindh National Forum, have fallen into such horrific faith. Just like many other Sindhi and Balochi leaders and activists their lives are in great danger. Their families live in fear, not knowing where their loved ones are being held or for what reasons. Government denies their arrests insisting that they do not have the two men. Yet witnesses point to police and army officials as being the ones conducting their arrests. Pressurizing the authorities and its military regime is the only way to save them. Please join us in our struggle for justice and fair, non-violent treatment of human beings.

 

 

Aakash Malah a.k.a. Sikandar Malah  (Released On Bail)

 

Aakash Malah is 29 year old construction worker contracted with the Pakistani government. Aakash is also an active member of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, a nationalist party fighting for the rights of the indigenous Sindhis.  He was arrested  by TPO and SHO Qasimabad at 8p.m. on May 16, 2006 at Chandia Village in Qasimabad, Hyderabad for no apparent reason. He has no prior criminal record yet he is being detained and tortured without allowance to appear in front of the courts. Numerous civil demonstrations along with appeals and petitions to the high courts have been made demanding Aakash release or information on his location. His family still waits for the answer. 

 

Address: Banglow# 3 Marvi Garden Near Bhitai Nagar Qasimabad Hyderabad

 

 

Asif Baladi

 

Allah Ditto is a well-known intellectual writer in his community who writes under the name Asif Balad. He is also the president of the Sindh Nationalist Forum (SNF) and has been active with the Jeay Sindh Tahreek. Not too long ago his organization, SNF, has announced to organize a Paigham-e-Sindh Conference that would advance Sindh’s message of peace, love and harmony to the rest of the world. His organization believes in the unity of multiplicity of religions and equity of cultures that combines Bulha, Bhittai, Kabir in the same stream and provide common foundations to the South Asia. On June 26th at about 11:45 a.m. as Allah was on his way to visit a friend he was picked up by Inter Service Intelligence of Pakistan (ISI) personnel. Since then Allah has made three calls to his sister one of which was cut short as though someone had snatched the phone away from him. In the other two calls Asif asked his sister to handover his passport and his National Identity Card (NIC) to a particular person whom was not known to the family. Afterwards four men came to their apartment claiming to be from the ISI demanding Allah’s NIC and passport. Family members refused to handover the documents. The family is still being harassed and Allah is yet to appear in front of the courts. No case complaint or warrant from any court of law from any police station has been produced against him. His family fears that for his life and has filed a high courts petition. They have yet to see result from that.

 

Click here to see the the petition filled by Asif Baladi's son and his advocate.

 

 

Maghi Khan Chandio S/o Dhani Bux Chandio           

 

Mahgi Khan Chandio is a 28-year-old male who worked as a news reporter and a sub editor for the Daily SOBH Hyderabad. Aside that he is an active member of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, a nationalist party fighting for the rights of the indigenous Sindhis.  Maghi was arrested by TPO and SHO Qasimabad at 8p.m. on May 16, 2006 at Chandia village in Hyderabad district. Two eyewitness, Adnan Shiakh and Karim, report that the police seized him during a peaceful demonstration while firing shots into the air and beating by standers so they would not interfere.  Mahgi has a clean record with no prior criminal chargers. To this day Maghi’s where abouts are unknown and he has yet to appear in court despite the many petitions and demonstrations calling for his release.           

 

Address: Chandia Village near Happy Home Qasimabad Hyderabad

 

 

Muzafer Bhutto                                                                              

 

Muzafer Bhutto is a married man who works for a powerhouse in Jamshoro. He is the central finance secretary for the Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz, a nationalist party working to improve living conditions for the Sindhi people. Police and army officials arrested Muzafer on October 10, 2005 in Hyderabad, Karachi. Family, friends and members of the JSMM along with other nationalist parties held multiple hunger-rallies demanding his immediate release. His wife fears he might have been tortured and killed because Muzafer has yet to appear in front of the courts. The Pakistani ministries still deny his arrest. He is being held captive in either Hyberabad or Karachi jail under the name of Sanaullah Bhatti.

 

 

Nawaz Zaour                                                              

 

Nawaz Zaour was a teacher, journalist and a well-known poet in Sindhi language residing in Mirpur Bathroro. He is 38 years old and has a wife who deeply mourns his disappearance. Nawaz held the title of central secretary for the Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz, a nationalist party working to improve living conditions for the Sindhi people. He was arrested on January 31, 2006 by army personal and DPO on a train ride into Hyberadad. The train was stopped in the middle of the jungle and continuously searched for 2-4 hours. Witnesses report that Nawaz was treated like he was a terrorist. No one has heard from him since. It is believed he is being held captive and tortured by the Pakistan government in either Hyberabad or Karachi jail under the name of Imran Leghari.

 

 

Safdar Sarki

 

The World Sindhi Institute (WSI) is a nonprofit organization that promotes human rights in the Sindh province of southeast Pakistan through nonviolent means. WSI is currently supporting Mrs. Rhukhsana (Paras) Sarki in her effort to raise awareness about her husband’s current captivity in Pakistan. Mrs. Sarki’s husband, Dr. Safdar Sarki, was abducted from his apartment in Karachi, Pakistan, on 24 February 2006. Dr. Sarki is a U.S. citizen, and his wife and two children live in the U.S. Dr. Sarki was in Pakistan promoting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities through his work with the “Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz,” working as a leader of that secular party. According to eyewitnesses, he was beaten for an hour before he was removed from his apartment by men who were believed to be members of the Pakistan security forces. Dr. Sarki has not been heard from, seen, or charged with any crimes since his disappearance.

 

On March 10, 2006, Amnesty International issued an urgent action appeal on Dr. Sarki’s behalf. On May 25, the Asian Human Rights Commission issued a similar appeal. Over 60 news articles have been published concerning Dr. Sarki’s abduction in the Pakistani media. A habeas corpus petition was filed with the Sindh High Court, but the government has failed to provide any information in response.

 

Dr. Sarki’s disappearance fits a pattern of persecution of human rights advocates and secular political leaders belonging to the minorities in Pakistan. Last month, the human rights commission of Pakistan observed that Pakistani “intelligence” agencies have been involved in the kidnapping of nationalist leaders and students from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces, with more than 57 people reported to be missing due to these abductions.

 

Mrs. Sarki wishes to raise awareness of her husband’s captivity. Through this awareness, she hopes to find out where and in whose custody her husband is being held. She is concerned for his safety and fears that he is being tortured and ill-treated.

 

Through its efforts, the World Sindhi Institute hopes to ensure the safe return of Dr. Sarki to his family and to raise awareness of the political and social situation in Pakistan that allows for the abductions and torture of secular political leaders and human rights activists.

 

 

Satar Hakro                                                                

 

Satar Hakro is from Qamber City and a graduate from Sindh University. He is a married and holds the central vice chairman position with the Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz, a nationalist party standing up for the rights of the indigenous Sindhs. Police collaborating with army personal arrested him on a bus while he was on his way to Shahdadkot in Hyberabad on October 17, 2005. He’s where abouts have not been disclosed neither has he appeared in front of the courts. It is believed he is being held captive and tortured for his believes and views. Numerous demonstrations and rallies have been held calling for his release. However he is still in either Hyderabad or Karachi jail under the name of Mazher Bhatti.

 

 

Sikander Soomro                                                                    

 

Sikander Soomro is a 55 year old who worked as a watchman in a solar energy center. He is married and has 5 children with whom he lived in Jamshoro. Sikander is the central joint secretary for the Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz, a nationalist party working for the freedom of Sindhi people. Because of his affiliation he was arrested on March 3rd, 2005, released 7 months later on bail and then arrested again by the DPO of Jamshoro. The army personal is denying his prior arrest. He is being held either in Karachi or Hyberabad prison under the name of Sayed Asgher Shah.

 

Obaidullah Ali & Samiullah Baloch

Two brothers of Senator Sanaullah Baloch have been kidnapped by the Military intelligence on 16 July, Sunday 2006 in afternoon from Quetta, near Quetta Cantonment, Askari Park.

 

There is no case register against them; both of them are not involved in politics.

 

Samiullah Baloch, 24. He is Master in law and head of BIFD (Balochistan Institute for Future Development www.bifd.net ), working on Human and Woman Right, and established 20 Schools in District Kharran and rest of remote parts of Balochistan with support of Balochistan Social Welfare Department.

 

Mr Obaidullah (Abdul) 26, recently returned from USA, he is never been in any political activity, but was active in civil society activities and part time working for Balochistan Institute for Future Development. (Now Returned Home from Military Police Custody on 18th July 2006)

 

Both of them were on their way to home after work and stopped by MI jeep and forcefully picked up them.

 

 

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