HYDERABAD, July 9: Leaders of the Sindh Nationalist Forum have threatened to launch a series of protest demonstrations if SNF chief Asif Baladi and other nationalist leaders were not released.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club on Sunday, Ghulam Haider Buriro, Asghar Azeemani and Mujeeb Baladi said that Asif Baladi was arrested in Karachi’s DHA area by secrete agencies on June 26, and his life was in danger as the arrest had not been officially announced.

They said that since the 80s state excesses had crossed all limits and many a leader of Sindh and Balochistan were being held incommunicado and subjected to torture.

They said that the kidnapping of Asif Baladi and other nationalist leaders by agencies was a flagrant violation of human rights and warned that the consequences would be disastrous.

They called upon the Sindhi nation, nationalist leaders, national and international human rights organisations to help secure the release of Asif Baladi and other nationalist leaders.

They called upon friends of Sindh to evolve a joint strategy for launching a struggle against the arrest of nationalist leaders.

They said that Mr Baladi was arrested as he had announced to convene the “Pegham-i-Sindh Conference” at the shrine of Shah Latif in March 2007.

They said that his arrest was aimed at sabotaging the conference though its objectives were to promote peace, unity, mutual understanding and religious harmony.

They said that the Pegham-i-Sindh Conference would be held on schedule despite the harassment and obstacles.

They said that a peaceful protest movement would be launched in Sindh including protest demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes to secure the release of Asif Baladi and other nationalist leaders.

They announced that on July 15, a protest march would be held in Hyderabad.

They demanded that Asif Baladi, Dr Safdar Sarki, Nawaz Zounr, Muzaffar Bhutto and Aakash Mallah should be immediately released.

PROTEST: Activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz held a demonstration outside the press club in protest against the disappearance of Asif Baladi.

Mushtaq Khan and Qasim Soomro led the protesters.

They demanded that nationalist activists Asif Baladi, Dr Safdar Sarki, Aakash Mallah, Nawaz Zounr and Manjhi Chandio be released.

They appealed to international organisations and the HRCP to take notice of ongoing operation and state terrorism in Sindh.