KARACHI: Political activists and members of civil society on Sunday held a protest demonstration against “enforced disappearances” in Sindh.

The protesters gathered in front of the Karachi Press Club to hold the demonstration against a recent wave of “enforced disappearances”. They carried banners inscribed with demand to release Punhal Sario, the convener of the missing people’s organisation in the Sindh province and writer, editor and publisher Inam Abbasi and other ‘missing’ persons.

Representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Aurat Foundation, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Democratic Students Federation, Secular Forum of Pakistan, Awami Workers Party and Communist Party of Pakistan and some professors also attended the demonstration.

The protesters urged the government and the apex court to take notice of what they called the renewed wave of “enforced disappearances” in Sindh.

Civil society representatives contended that if the “missing” persons were involved in any illegal activity, they should be presented before court. They apprehended that this phenomenon triggered uncertainty in the province besides causing immense hardships to the families of the victims.

Punhal Sario was taken away from Hyderabad a few days ago where he had planned to hold a gathering about “missing” persons while Inam Abbasi went “missing” from Karachi on Saturday evening.

The relatives and friends said that Mr Abbasi was going to a convenience store from his house in Safoora Goth on a motorbike with his daughter. Men in plainclothes travelling in a SUV intercepted Mr Abbasi, who is the editor of the Nao Niapo magazine, and took him into custody.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2017