HYDERABAD: A fact-finding team comprising senior activists of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and some civil society organisations on Sunday endorsed claims that the four persons who had apparently gone missing from different parts of Badin district on May 24 were actually taken away by law enforcers.

The victims’ whereabouts are still not known, according to the HRCP report released here on Sunday.

The team met families and neighbours of the missing persons -- Raza Jarwar, Ali Ahmed Bughio, Shadi Khan Soomro and Abdul Aziz Gurghaiz, as well as political activists and members of the bar association and press clubs concerned on Saturday.

The HRCP release quoted the victims’ family members as telling the team that they [victims] were harassed, tortured and blind-folded before being taken away by law enforcers, who also warned the affected families against disclosing all this to any one, holding protest over it or resorting to taking legal course.

It said that Raza Jarwar, 47, an employee of health department and a Sindhi language writer and activist, was picked up from his house in Mohammad Hashim Jarwar village by 12-15 uniformed personnel and men in civvies, according to his wife. Raza Jarwar is uncle of HRCP team member Saleem Jarwar.

Ali Ahmed Bughio, 22, a clerk in the Badin Municipal Council, was taken away from his house in Badin town by personnel riding a Vigo and a police mobile, the HRCP release said.

Shadi Khan Soomro, 45, a primary school teacher, was picked up by law enforcers from Noor Mohammad Soomro village, it added.

Abdul Aziz Gurghaiz, 35, a member of the Ahmedi community, was taken away from his house in Khuda Abad village of Tando Bago taluka, it quoted his father, Mohammad Abbas, as telling the HRCP team.According to the release, the team comprised Dr Ashothama, Amjad Palijo and Saleem Jarwar of the HRCP, Punhal Saryo, Mustafa Mirani, Manzoor Thaheem, Zaman Jamali, Achar Khoso and Lala Haleem Shaikh.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2017