KARACHI, May 16: The peaceful sit-in protest by family members and supporters of arrested youths outside Shah-i-Khurasan continued on third consecutive day on Tuesday. The Shia Action Committee, which had organised the protest, reiterated its determination to continue the protest until release of youths. Those who were arrested by sensitive agencies and their whereabouts were not disclosed even to their family members included Nayyer Zaidi, Abid Zaidi, Ali Haider, Muhammad Ali, Qamar Abbas, Ghulam Abbas, Hasan Raza, Nasir Hussain and Sajid Hussain.

Every day after Maghrib, over 100 family members and supporters converge outside Shah-i-Khurasan to stage peaceful protest against the arrest of their loved ones. They are joined by hundred others who come to offer Maghribain prayers and the sit-in continues till late night.

Talking to Dawn Shia Action Committee Chief Mirza Yusuf Hussain regretted the attitude of the authorities for ignoring agony of the families and the rising unrest among the community.

S.M. Haider, who is leader of Pasban-i-Aaza told Dawn that they had selected the venue of Shah-i-Khurasan to stage sit-in for security reasons as large number of affected families including women and children were participating in the sit-in. He pointed out that on last Friday when they staged a sit-in in Kharadar they were given assurance by DIG (Operation) Mushtaq Shah and TPO Saddar Sanaullah Abassi that a meeting would be arranged between the arrested youth and their families. Despite lapse of almost a week, they were neither released nor was any meeting arranged with their family members, he added.

He said they were left with no option but to stage protest to draw attention towards victimisation of Shia youths.

Meanwhile, Senator Allama Abass Kumaili, central leader of Jafferia Alliance, said that he was in touch with Interior Secretary Kamal Shah on the issue and some positive indications were received about the release of the youths, as no evidence was found about the involvement of the youths so far.

Abass Kumaili said that delay in the release was attributed to the involvement of different agencies in the investigation. Besides, he pointed out that he had raised this issue with the Senate committee on human rights and if the youths were not released, the matter would be taken up in the parliament.

In addition, he said, petitions were also filed in the High Court.

In the meantime, the Supreme Council of Jafferia Alliance in its meeting on Monday decided that if the authorities did not start releasing their arrested youths within 24 hours, the alliance would launch its protest campaign from Thursday by staging rally of Ulema and Zakireen outside Karachi Press Club at 4 pm.

The alliance condemned agencies for unjustified arrest of their youths at the behest of some foreign embassies and decided to send a delegation to Islamabad to hold talks with the authorities.