KARACHI: Protest against activists’ ‘detention’ continues
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 27: A demonstration was staged here on Wednesday for the immediate release of the Baloch activists allegedly kept in unlawful confinement for months at unknown camps by government agencies.
Workers, activists and supporters of various nationalist parties, as well as representatives of certain NGOs, participated in the demonstration held outside the Karachi Press Club.
Carrying banners and placards in their hands, the demonstrators raised anti-government slogans and demanded release of all such detainees and recovery of missing activists, allegedly picked up by agencies, including Gowaram Saleh, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Sher Mohammad Baloch and others.
The demonstration was organised by the Gowaram Release Committee.
The protesters belonged to the Baloch National Movement, Baloch Students Organisation, Baloch Unity Conference and Jamhoori Watan Party, besides families of the detained/missing activists.
They pledged to continue their struggle until all Baloch leaders and activists were released. Expressing their concern over the ‘enforced disappearances’, they urged international organisations and national political parties to play their due role in bringing an end to such serious violation of human rights.
They pointed out that the government agencies’ attitude had created great resentment among Baloch people across the country and abroad. They strongly condemned the government’s indifference towards the kidnap-like arrests and illegal detentions, as well as continuing crackdown on Baloch activists despite innumerable protests and condemnation from all sections of society. The rulers are not ready to heed even the calls from international rights organisations, they deplored, adding that families of detained people were not being informed of their whereabouts for weeks and months which was unethical, illegal and immoral.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by Gowaram Saleh’s mother, wife and children entered 129th days on Wednesday. Leaders and workers of various parties and groups continued to visit their camp and express solidarity with them.
Gowaram Saleh had allegedly been picked up by government agencies on Aug 8, 2004 at Talhar Check Post in Mekran region and there has been no report about his whereabouts since then.
