BADIN: In the early hours of Wednesday, personnel of the law enforcement agencies raided three places and took away three persons.

A local writer, Ghulam Raza Jarwar, was whisked away by men in civvies from Goth Jani Jarwar in Matli taluka. Ali Ahmed Bughio was taken away in an identical manner from the post office area of Badin city.

Reports from the village of Ghagro near Badin city said that a primary school teacher, Shadi Khan Soomro, was also whisked away by men in civvies.

It was learnt that a few months ago also, Mr Bughio was taken away in a similar manner, but was released later.

Mohammad Saleem Jarwar, coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in Badin district, who is also a nephew of Ghulam Raza Jarwar, told Dawn that his uncle was not an active member of any nationalist group.

He feared for his life.

Mr Jarwar demanded that all those taken away without informing the area police should be produced in courts if they were involved in any anti-state activities.

He said that when they met the SHO of Tando Ghulam Ali police station, Dhani Bux Marri, he denied that any raid had taken place and advised to take up the issue of ‘the forced disappearance’ with “the high-ups”.

Mr Jarwar said that during the raids, the law enforcers tortured the captives in all three incidents. The SHOs concerned said they were not aware of such incidents.

Protest against ‘disappearances’

HYDERABAD: Activists of civil society, rights organisations and relatives held a demonstration in protest against the arrest of writer Ghulam Raza Jarwar from his house on Wednesday night allegedly by the officials of law enforcement agencies.

Elder brother Ghulam Rasool and nephew Saleem Jarwar of Ghulam Jarwar told media persons that Ghulam Jarwar was asleep in his house when 10-15 officials in plainclothes and uniform travelling in three vehicles, including one police mobile, cordoned off the house and picked him up.

They claimed that the LEAs seized his writings, diary and some documents.

They said the writer was an employee of the Sindh health department, working as vaccinator.

HRCP activists, including Amjad Ali Palijo, and others were present.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2017

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