HYDERABAD: The call for a Sindh-wide shutdown against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) given by proscribed Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) for Monday remained ineffective as normal business, trade, commercial and educational activities were witnessed throughout the province.

While people of Latifabad and Qasimabad, Tando Allahyar and Matiari ignored the strike call, a partial shutdown was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan, where shops were closed during the first half of the day. Police kept patrolling the area to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, Mumtaz Burfat, the sister of JSMM chief Shafi Burfat, held a hurriedly called press conference in the Hyderabad Press Club on Monday evening to claim that her nine close relatives were picked up by law enforcers in the wake of the strike call.

She said that police raided the residence of her brother, Habibullah Burfat, in Jamshoro and picked up his sons, Housh Mohammad and Hameer Khan. “The house of our relative, Qasim Burfat, was also raided and his sons, Azam Burfat and Asif Burfat, were picked up,” she said, adding that the house of Shafi Burfat’s brother-in-law Ghulam Rasool Burfat was raided by police who took him away along with his brother Mukhtiar Burfat. She said another brother, Zaheer Hussain Burfat, was also picked up.

She, along with other members of the affected families, appealed to rights bodies to take notice of these “enforced disappearances”.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017