HYDERABAD: Activists of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the representatives of civil society organisations held a protest demonstration to observe the “International day of victims of enforced disappearance” on Tuesday.

Carrying banners and placards outside the local press club, they shouted slogans against enforced disappearance of political activists, especially in Sindh and Balochistan. The protest was organised by Hyderabad HRCP task force coordinator Dr Ashothama Lohana while civil society representatives Prof Mushtaque Mirani, advocate Imran, Pervez Khokhar and others were present.

Dr Lohana demanded of the government to ratify the UN convention against enforced disappearances. He said there was an unrest and fear among hundreds of youths of Sindh that they could be picked up during the ongoing crackdown of the law enforcement agencies.

He expressed grave concerns over missing persons in the two provinces as they were not being produced in the court of law.

Other speakers blamed that the law enforcement agencies conducted a crackdown and picked up youths from villages and cities.

They said cases were being registered against them as 40 cases of the same nature appeared during three months.

Apprehending that the “disappeared persons” might be extra-judicially killed, they stressed the need for producing the “arrested youths” in the court of law. They demanded of the government to ensure safe recovery of the missing persons and take appropriate steps in this regard immediately.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2016