Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is alarmed by the continuing reports of forced disappearances of political activists with the latest incident involving two members from the Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz Nationalist Party. The persistent practice of such acts undermines the deepest values of commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Intervention must be afforded to investigate and bring to an end this grave crime against humanity.
The latest disappearance took place on 16 May 2006. Two activists of the Nationalist Party, Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz were arrested by a group of six to eight officers in civilian clothes at 7.30 pm near the Sarmad Hotel, Chandia Goth. Several witnesses were present and enquired about the arrest, the officials declared that they were from the Qaisabad Police and that Mr. Sikander (alias Aakash Mallah s/o Mohammad Siddiq r/o B3 Maari Garden Qasimabad) and Mr Manjhi Khan (s/o Dhani Bux r/o Chandia Goth near Happy Homes Qasimabad) were wanted for investigation relating to the protest and demonstration against the construction of the Kala Bagh Dam. Four people amongst the crowd followed the police vehicle and found that the two activists were being taken to the Hyderabad Sindh, a renowned military cantonment for torture and killings. Since the incident the two activists have not been seen and the Qasimabad Police has denied all knowledge of the arrest.
The AHRC has been closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan and this is by no means an isolated case (See further UA-132-2006; UG-003-2006; UA-49-2004 and FA-05-2003). In a statement issued by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on 23 May 2006, it was stated that intelligence agencies have been playing a part in the kidnapping of nationalist leaders and students from the Sindh and Blochistan provinces with more than 57 people still reported missing.
BARCKGROUND:
There have been several reported disappearances of politicians from the same nationalist party (See UA-132-2006). The General Secretary of Jeay Sind Qaumi Mahaz, Dr. Safdar Sarki has been missing since 24 February 2006 following an arrest by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Karachi. When the case reached the division bench of the Sindh High Court, the bench was informed that the federal government had neither arrested nor kept Dr. Safdar in custody. The Sindh Police and the Ministry of Defence likewise denied any involvement in detaining Dr. Safdar. However the petitioner counsel maintains that Dr. Safdar was initially picked up by the police and subsequently handed to military agencies. To date Dr Safdars whereabouts still remain unknown and no further investigation has been made to look into the matter.
The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Party further claims that 15 of its activists including three office bearers have been missing for more than a year following similar arrests. Two Sindhi journalists, Mr. Abdul Sattar Heckrho and Mr. Muzzafar Bhutto, have been missing for periods of nine months and one year respectively and it is believed that it is unlikely they would still be alive.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send your appeal letters to the central and local government authorities of Pakistan and urge them to locate the whereabouts of the missing members from the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz party and push for their release immediately. Please also write to the relevant UN agencies listed below and request them to pressure the Government of Pakistan to intervene in this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
PAKISTAN: Two members of the Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz Nationalist Party abducted in the latest report of forced disappearance
Names of disappeared victims: Mr. Sikander (alias Aakash Mallah s/o Mohammad Siddiq r/o B3 Maari Garden Qasimabad) and Mr Manjhi Khan (s/o Dhani Bux r/o Chandia Goth near Happy Homes Qasimabad)
Name of alleged perpetrators: The Qaisabad Police
Date of incident: 16 May 2006
Place of incident: Near the Sarmad Hotel, Chandia Goth
I have recently learned of the disappearances of political activists, Mr. Sikander and Mr. Manjihi following an arrest made by the Qaisabad Police officials on 16 May 2006. According to the statements made by witnesses the two were taken to the Hyderabad Sindh military cantonment and have since been missing. Following an inquiry as to the whereabouts of both Mr. Sikander and Mr. Manjihi, the Qasimabad Police has denied all knowledge of the arrest.
I have been closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan and this is by no means an isolated case. The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Party claims that 15 of its activists including three office bearers have been missing for more than a year following similar arrests. Two Sindhi journalists, Mr. Abdul Sattar Heckrho and Mr. Muzzafar Bhutto, have been missing for periods of nine months and one year respectively and it is believed that it is unlikely they would still be alive. You have likewise been made aware of the case relating to Dr. Safdar Sarkis disappearance who has been missing since February 24 and to date the case still remains unresolved.
The government has continually failed to properly address the disappearances of members of the Nationalist Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz. The high incidence of disappearance is truly concerning and it would seem that there runs a wider campaign acting to remove political oppositions. The inaction of the government not only constitutes tacit approval to the disappearances of these people but may also be seen as granting impunity with which police can act.
It is worrying to learn that law enforcement officials have been directly involved in these arrests and the systematic nature of implementation has made a mockery of the Pakistan constitution. Owing to this I strongly urge the government to exhaust all means to locate disappeared victims from the Nationalist Party. Intervention must be afforded to investigate and bring to an end this grave crime against humanity.
I trust that you will take immediate action in these cases.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
Presidents Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
Email: CE@pak.gov.pk
2. Mr. Muhammad Wasi Zafar
Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block,
Pakistan Secretariat,
Islamabad,
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2628
E-Mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk
3. Mr. Justice Iftekhar Choudhry
Chief Justice of Pakistan
Supreme Court building
Islam abad
PAKISTAN
Fax: + 92 51 9213452
4. Mr. Justice Sabih Uddin
Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-21-9213220
Email: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
5. Mr. Ishrat-ul- Ibad Khan
Governor
Government of Sindh
Governor House Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 21 920 1201
Email: governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
6. Dr. Arbab Abdul Rahim
Chief Minister of Sindh
Chief Minister House
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax 92 21 9202000
7. Mrs. Saira Karim
Joint Secretary for Law, Justice and Human Rights
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 51 920 2819
Fax: + 92 51 920 3119
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
