HYDERABAD, Feb 17: A senior leader of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and a noted intellectual Abdul Wahid Arisar and his seven relatives and friends were reportedly picked up late on Friday night and released after a few hours in different areas of Qasimabad.

Reports said that some people in mufti barged into Mr Arisar’s house in Qasimabad Phase-II and took away Mr Arisar, Karamullah Arisar, Ali Nawaz Arisar, Dhani Bux Solangi, Ali Raza Mangrio, Hanif Rahimoon and driver Lakhshman.

Reports said that their mobile phones, NICs and other documents were also snatched. After grilling Mr Arisar for two hours they set them all free at different places. Mr Arisar was not available on his mobile phone for comment.

Over three dozen writers and intellectuals including Rashid Morai, Abdul Hakeem Arshad, Ghulam Hussain Rangrez, Taj Joyo, Ayaz Gul and Adal Soomro blamed agencies for the incident and demanded in a joint statement that the government should take action against the people involved in the incident.