Harman Patil (Editor)

Human rights abuses in Sindh

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Date
  
Ongoing

Location
  
Sindh, Pakistan

Motive
  
Military clampdown

Human rights abuses in Sindh

Target
  
Civilians and combatants

There have been allegations that the Pakistani Army and ISI have conducted operations of involuntary disappearances, detentions, and torture on the Sindhi, Baluch and Muhajir political activists. Once caught, these detainees are held in 'safe houses' of intelligence agencies.

Contents

Abductions

Well known activist in the Sindhi nationalist movement Dr Safdar Sarki was one of the many disappeared during the period of Gen. Pervez Musharraf's rule, the campaign to "find" him and get him released included prominent human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, and the Asian Human Rights Commission calling for his release, while the New York Times and other news organizations reported that his health was in jeopardy because the Pakistani government refused to allow him necessary medical attention.

Political persecution

There have been many cases of political persecution in Sindh. Much of the persecution is linked to Sindh's provincial government, and is undertaken by Karachi's Crime Investigation Agency (CIA). Many human rights abuses were committed under the tenure of Chief Minister Jam Sadiq Ali, who took office from August 6, 1990 to March 5, 1992. Under his tenure, Sindhi independence leader GM Syed was placed under house arrest until his death; however Jam Sadiq's death in 1992 did not cause these acts to cease. Following his death, his seat was contested between his son, Jam Ashiq Ali and a Pakistan Peoples Party member, Shahanawaz Junejo. Ali's supporters undertook intimidation of PPP activists and Shahanawaz Junejo, as well as 200 other opposition activists who were detained. In Sindh province more than 100 nationalists were abducted and disappeared after 9/11, many were extra judicially killed and their tortured and bullet riddled bodies were dumped on the streets. Alone, from JSMM 13 people are still missing. Its former leader, Mr. Muzzafar Bhutto was two times abducted and kept in military torture cells where he succumbed to his injuries during the second time detention. Unidentified armed men shot dead three leaders of organization include senior Vice-Chairman Sirai Qurban Khuhawar, Noor Allah Tunio, Roploo Cholyani and Nadir Bugti at Bakhorri Mori area in district Sanghar in 2011, April 21. Sindhi nationalist leader Hafeez Hakro alleged that the personnel of law enforcement agencies were involved in Bakhorri Mori incident. Human rights commission of Pakistan published a report on Bakhorri Mori incident and alleged that Agencies’ role in JSMM activists’ murder must be probed. Asian Human Rights Commission Also said that University authorities use law enforcement agencies for disappearances of students in Sindh province. In 2010, November 9, security agencies abducted Ali Madad Burfat, who is a relative chairman of the JSMM Shafi Muhammad Burfat, and Kashif Malik are students of Sindh University in the final year of computer science. Babar Sendhilo activist of the group killed in an armed clash. Mumtaz Bhutto another activist of organization and brother of Muzafar Bhutto, killed on July 1, 2009 in a bomb blast at Thermal Power house colony Jamshoro, JSMM alleged that security agencies were involved in bomb blast. Student leader of JSMM Mehran university Asad Abbasi killed in a clash with government supported students organization. JSMM's Central body member Zulfiqar Kolachi also killed in bomb blast at Ibrahim hyderi goth Karachi. The police claimed that the Activists of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) were running this office or ‘bomb factory’ in a rented house, The explosive material went off when one of the terrorists lit a cigarette. while JSMM alleged that this is only fake propaganda against our political organization. In a press release of Sunday, 6 March 2011 World Sindhi Congress accused Pakistan authorities for killing political leaders of the organization. press release stated that "It should be noted that killing of Mr Zulfiqar Kolachi and arrests of other party activists seems to be part of a sustained campaign to eliminate the leadership of JSMM. JSMM activist Majid Memon was killed in a clash with Punjabis on hoisting Sindhudesh flags on the office building of the LAWA. In March 2005 Vice-chairman of the organization Samiullah Kalhoro died in a hospital of Karachi. Shafi Burfat alleged in his message that Kalhoro died after his kidney failed as a result of military torture. He said that the JSMM was being punished for pursuing the ideology of G M Sayed. Intellectual of JSMM Ijaz Solangi's deadbody were found in dadu after making press conference against security agencies. Mr Noam Chomsky shown his grave concern on disappearances in Sindh and Balochistan. Congressman Mr Dan Burton and Brad Sherman accused security agencies of Pakistan, in their letters to Pakistan's President Mr Asif Ali Zardari for disappearances of political and human rights activists of Sindh. In September 2012, A delegation of UN on inventory and enforced disappearance, visited Sindh and collect information on human rights violation across Sindh. On that time Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz Published an advertisement on Sindhi newspapers, and criticized on law enforcement agencies. on published advertise Shafi Muhammad Burfat appeals to UN delegation that "A Fascist oppression is being held by government institutions of this state against political activists of JSMM. In which most of the central committee's members of JSMM have been abducted by government institutions and have been tortured and killed brutally. Those activists of JSMM who being burnt alive in the streets and killed by torture cells are; Muzafar Bhutto, Qurban Khuhawar, Noorullah Tunio, Sami Allah Kalhoro, Rooplo Cholyani, Zulfiqar Kolachi, Bashir Qureshi, Nadir Bugti, Mumtaz Bhutto, Ijaz Solangi, Mushtaque Khaskheli, Majid Memon, Asad Abbasi & Baber Sandelo. We invite UN delegation to investigate these cases of abductions and extra-judicial killings of political activists of JSMM and to take in notice, all the brutalities of State against our Movement."

References

Human rights abuses in Sindh Wikipedia