KARACHI: Families of 10 youths allegedly picked up by plain-clothes personnel of security agencies have appealed to the president, prime minister and other authorities to help locate them.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Mirza Yousuf Hussain, representing the affected families, informed journalists at the Karachi Press Club on Friday that the youths were picked up a couple of days back from different areas.

Accusing personnel of security agencies of having abducted the youths, he said the affected families belonged to Millat-i-Jaferia who had already lost their community members in the acts of terrorism and violence that occurred on the Ashura and Chehlum days last year but instead of arresting the culprits the security agencies had taken away their youths only to add to their miseries.

He said Husnain Abbas was picked up from Orangi, Tanveer Abbas and Mazhar Abbas from North Karachi’s Sector 10, Rafaat Abbas alias Maisem Abbas and Kamil from F B Area, Pervez Zaidi, Jehangir and Sikandar from Cantt Station and Abrar Ali and Ali Mehdi were picked up from Jafar-i-Tayyar Society.

“We appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as well as the other authorities concerned to locate them,” he said.

He said that in the wake of the blasts and violence, the community had restrained their children from indulging in any activity that could land them in trouble. He said the affected families were made to suffer despite the fact that their community was exercising great patience and demonstrating tolerance.

Earlier, the affected families came across Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Shermila Farooqui, who was leaving the press club after addressing a press conference.

They apprised her of their grievances and asked for help in the recovery of their ‘missing’ family members.