BADIN: Elderly nationalist lea­der and convener of the proscribed Jeay Sindh Muttahida Movement (JSMM) Ustad Mohammed Rah­oon was picked up by security agencies personnel in a raid on his house in Kario Ghanwar town in the small hours of Wednesday, his family, party leaders and activists of several other nationalist groups said.

A contemporary of Jeay Sindh Movement (JSM) founder leader late G.M. Syed, Ustad Rahimoon, around 80, is considered by all JSM factions working for the independence of Sindh as the most respected nationalist figure, who devoted his whole life for the cause of establishing ‘Sindhu Desh’. He once held the office of the vice chairman of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz.

A shutdown was observed in Kario Ghanwar and some other towns of Badin district in the first half of the day as soon as the news about his alleged arrest spread.

Local journalists and the detained leader’s son, Sodho Rahimoon, said that a strong contingent comprising police and Rangers personnel carried out the raid and took away the elderly leader.

Sodho Rahimoon alleged that the security personnel also beat up the inmates and ransacked the house before taking the ailing leader into their custody.

He said the family and other relatives were anxious about his life and health as his father was suffering from several ailments, besides the old age problems. He urged the authorities concerned to ensure his safe and early release.

The area police, however, did not confirm the alleged raid or arrest.

HYDERABAD: A JSMM spokesman, Waheed Khoso, in an e-mail sent to Dawn on Wednesday claimed that the entire Kario Ghanwar town and localities on its outskirts were cordoned off by law enforcement and secret agencies personnel during what he described as ‘a search operation’ carried out for the arrest of Ustad Rahimoon and other party activists in the area.

He recalled that in February, Ustad Rahimoon was injured when police resorted to a baton-charge and shelling to quell a demonstration in Badin against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He quoted JSMM chief Shafi Burfat as urging the world community and international human rights organisations to help save the life of Ustad Rahimoon.Jeay Sindh Liberal Front (JSLF) chairman Nawaz Khan Zaunr and other office-bearers have also condemned the alleged arrest of Ustad Rahimoon.

In a joint statement, they termed the law enforcement agencies’ action a violation of fundamental human rights, and vowed to launch a phase-wise struggle against such violations.

Published in Dawn November 24th, 2016