Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the land mafia of the coastal area of Karachi has abducted two fisherfolk activists, Mr. Latif Dorai and Bilal Ahmed Baloch on 18 July, 2011. The land mafia physically abused both and Mr. Latif was more seriously beaten whereas Mr. Bilal was released later. The alleged perpetrator Mr. Haji Yunnis tried to lodge a false charge against Mr. Latif threatening to kill him and complaining that Latif has been interfering in a government matter which, in fact, is his own illegal business. The chairperson of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and other colleagues learned about the abduction and tried to file a First Information Report (FIR) at the Mauripur police station. So far they have failed to register it. Since the land mafia allegedly murdered two fisherfolk activists in May they have continued violence against the fisherfolk and enjoyed impunity. On the other hand the villagers and the human rights defenders face serious abuse and food insecurity.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
The AHRC has received information that after the land mafia led by Mr. Haji Younis and his son and former town mayor, Mr. Zulfiqar Younis allegedly murdered two activists of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) in May 2011, they continue to carry out violent attacks against other fisherfolk activists who may face the same fate.
On 18 July, 2011, around 3pm, two fisherfolk activists, Mr. Latif Dorai (son of Muhammad Omar, 35 years old), a prominent leader of the PFF and Mr. Bilal Ahmed Baloch (son of Qadir Bax, 30 years old) were abducted on their way to the Kakka Pir village, Mauripur, Karachi, Sindh province. At the check post of the Coastguards, 12 armed persons hired by the land mafia who are engaged in Mangrove cutting in Keamari town which is one and half kilometers away from Kakka pir village stopped these two activists and tried to abduct them. The two victims asked the Coastguard personnel to prevent them from being abducted but the culprits forced the officials to talk to someone over the phone and as a result the officials gave up their intervention.
While Bilal managed to escape from them, the armed persons brought Latif to two notorious land mafia, Mr. Haji Younis and his son Zulfiqar Younis in Younis Abad, in Mauripur. More than 20 persons severely beat Latif. After this, they brought Latif to another place where the public hospital would be constructed in Kakka pir village.
Mr. Haji Younis forced Latif to call up the chairperson of PFF Mr. Muhammad Ali Shah and a general secretary of PFF, Mr. Saeed Baloch to ask both to come and rescue Latif, which he refused. Haji Younis then ordered his men to pour petrol over Latif and set him on fire.
Meanwhile, the PFF leaders were informed that Latif was abducted and beaten. At about 4:30pm, the PFF activist made a phone call to Latif and said that the PFF activists would be coming there with the police. Haji Younis listening to the dialogue immediately and took Latif to the Mauripur police station and filed a false FIR against him. Those who brought Latif to the police station made a false statement that he was interfering in a government matter, which is the reason why people had beaten him up.
The chairperson and the general secretary of the PFF along with other activists also reached the police station. They had to argue with the police to register a FIR against the land mafia who had committed abduction and assault against the activists.
Only after one and a half hours, the Station House Officer (SHO) registered a non-cognizable report that deals with a minor case, charging Haji Younis and Zulfiqar in regard to the offence against Latif. On the same day, Latif got medical treatment at the Civil Hospital Karachi on which the medical report has not yet been released although the SHO provided them with a letter to the Medical Legal Officer (MLO) of the Civil Hospital. The police do not see the incident as serious despite the fact that the fisherfolk activists currently face threats of murder and other serious human rights violations.
The police registered the false FIR against these two fisher folk activists whereas they failed to conduct an objective investigation into the incident. So far neither the Medical Legal Officer has issued a medical report nor has an FIR been registered against the perpetrators.
AHRC Campaign for protection of fisher folks:
http://www.humanrights.asia/countries/pakistan/protect-fisherfolks
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Latif Dorai and Bilal Baloch are the most active fisherfolk activists of PFF. Latif Dorai is one of the founding members of the PFF and both are directly engaged in the case of two deceased fisherfolk leaders. They are closely related with the Kaka Pir villagers. They are very active in public protest against the murders of Haji Abu Bakar and Abdul Ghani. Both stand into second leadership of PFF. Accordingly, the attack upon them apparently implies that the land mafias try to stop their public protest, which may cause another death.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to authorities to express your concern that the land mafias continue to committing violation and to enjoy impunity which may cause another death to the fisherfolk activists. The AHRC will write a separate letter to UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights Defenders and on the Right to Adequate Food.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Land mafia abduct and severely beat a further two fisherfolk activists who remain in serious danger
Name of victim:
1. Latif Dorai, 36 years old, living in Doraee Arcade, 5th floor, flat no. 502, Khada, Liayree, Karachi
2. Bilal Baloch, 30 years old, living in house no. 719, Mauripur, Tikri village, Hoxbay road, Karachi
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Haji Muhammad Younis, Former president of Pakistan Fishermen Cooperative Society,
Sandspit, Mauripur, Kemari town, Karachi-PAKISTAN
2. Mr. Zulfiqar Younis, son of Haji Muhammad Younis, Former Town Nazim of Kemari town,
Sandspit, Mauripur, Kemari Town, Karachi-PAKISTAN
Relevant law enforcement agency: Mauripur police station who registered false case against the human rights defenders whereas non-cognizable report against the perpetrators land mafias
Date of incident: July 18, 2011
Place of incident: Kakka pir village, Mauripur, Kemari town, Karachi, PAKISTAN
I write to you to express my deep concern about another two fisherfolk activists who were abducted and seriously beaten by land mafias on July 18, 2011.
I have learned that both activists are prominent leaders of the Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFF) who have been struggling against land grabbing by land mafias. The attack upon these two activists implies that the land mafia might commit murder against them as I have learned from the murder of two senior fisherfolk activists whom the land mafias allegedly killed in May 2011.
Despite continuous threats and violations against the fisherfolk the police do not carry out their duty with an objective attitude. In this case, the police again registered a false case against the activists while registering a non-cognizable report against the perpetrators that is applied to a minor case. I am of the opinion that the unfair and impartial police attitude in favor of politically influential land mafias creates violence and food insecurity against the fisher folks.
On 18 July 2011, around 3pm, two fisherfolk activists, Mr. Latif Dorai (son of Muhammad Omar, 35 years old), a prominent leader of the PFF and Mr. Bilal Ahmed Baloch (son of Qadir Bax, 30 years old) were abducted on their way to the Kakka Pir village, Mauripur, Karachi, Sindh province. At the check post of the Coastguards, 12 armed persons hired by the land mafia who are engaged in Mangrove cutting in Keamari town which is one and half kilometers away from Kakka pir village stopped these two activists and tried to abduct them. The two victims asked the Coastguard personnel to prevent them from being abducted but the culprits forced the officials to talk to someone over the phone and as a result the officials gave up their intervention.
I am informed that while Bilal managed to escape from them, the armed persons brought Latif to two notorious land mafia, Mr. Haji Younis and his son Zulfiqar Younis in Younis Abad, in Mauripur. More than 20 persons severely beat Latif. After this, they brought Latif to another place where the public hospital would be constructed in Kakka pir village.
Mr. Haji Younis forced Latif to call up the chairperson of PFF Mr. Muhammad Ali Shah and a general secretary of PFF, Mr. Saeed Baloch to ask both to come and rescue Latif, which he refused. Haji Younis then ordered his men to pour petrol over Latif and set him on fire.
Meanwhile, the PFF leaders were informed that Latif was abducted and beaten. At about 4:30pm, the PFF activist made a phone call to Latif and said that the PFF activists would be coming there with the police. Haji Younis listening to the dialogue immediately and took Latif to the Mauripur police station and filed a false FIR against him. Those who brought Latif to the police station made a false statement that he was interfering in a government matter, which is the reason why people had beaten him up.
The chairperson and the general secretary of the PFF along with other activists also reached the police station. They had to argue with the police to register a FIR against the land mafia who had committed abduction and assault against the activists.
Only after one and a half hours, the Station House Officer (SHO) registered a non-cognizable report that deals with a minor case, charging Haji Younis and Zulfiqar in regard to the offence against Latif. On the same day, Latif got medical treatment at the Civil Hospital Karachi on which the medical report has not yet been released although the SHO provided them with a letter to the Medical Legal Officer (MLO) of the Civil Hospital. The police do not see the incident as serious despite the fact that the fisherfolk activists currently face threats of murder and other serious human rights violations.
The police registered the false FIR against these two fisher folk activists whereas they failed to conduct an objective investigation into the incident. So far neither the Medical Legal Officer has issued a medical report nor has an FIR been registered against the perpetrators.
I therefore, urge you to intervene into the case and am alarmed that the land mafia may commit another murder against these two activists. The police should take an impartial position. The fisherfolk are currently the victims whose human rights are seriously violated and who face threats to their lives by the land mafia. Given that the police failed to protect the victims and supported the perpetrators instead, the government authority concerned should make proper intervention into the situation in order to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of the fisherfolk. This is necessary to ensure justice in a society. The government itself must be made be aware that the international community is watching this issue.
More specifically, it should not take so much time for the Civil Hospital to provide a medical report about the victim activist in order to file a FIR against the perpetrator instead of a non-cognizable report. I am of the opinion that all false charges against the fisherfolk activists should be withdrawn and the correct complaint should be registered against the alleged perpetrators who must be brought before justice.
I look forward your prompt response.
Sincerely yours,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9204801/9214171
Fax: +92 51 9207458
Email: publicmail@president.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9221596
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
3. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
E-mail: pppsindh@yahoo.com
4. Mr. Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani
Federal Minister for Human Rights
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +9251-9204108
Email: sarfaraz_yousuf@yahoo.com
5. Mr. Muhammad Ayaz Soomro
Minister for Law, Parliamantry Affairs & Criminal Prosecution Service
Sindh Assembly Building,
Court road, Karachi, Sindh province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9211982
E-mail: secy.law@sindh.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
7. Ms. Nadia Gabol
Minister for Human Rights
Government of Sindh,
Pakistan secretariat, Barrack 92,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9207044
Tel: +92 21 9207043
E-mail: lukshmil@yahoo.com
8. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
E-mail: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
9. Inspector General of Police
Police Head office, I. I. Chundrigar road
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9212051
E-mail: ppo.sindh@sindhpolice.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
