KARACHI, March 8: Leaders of the opposition in Balochistan and Sindh assemblies on Thursday demanded immediate release of over 7,000 Baloch youths allegedly picked up by secret agencies.

They said if the youths were required in connection with any crime, they should be formally arrested and tried in open courts.

They were speaking to family members of one of such youths, Gohram Saleh, outside the Karachi Press Club where they are on a hunger strike.

The mother, wife and sister of Mr Saleh have been on the token hunger strike outside the press club for 196 days in protest against his disappearance.

The family members told the leaders of the opposition that Mr Saleh was taken away by secret agencies from the Talar checkpoint in Gwadar on Aug 8, 2004.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhro and Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali Baloch, who visited the family separately, alleged that Baloch youths were being kidnapped and tortured by secret agencies. They said the youths were being held for demanding their rights.

They said if these people were wanted in any investigation, they should be formally arrested and tried in open courts. Relatives and lawyers should be allowed to meet them so they could be defended in courts properly.