ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-197-2017
November 18, 2017
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PAKISTAN: Baloch student leader and four other activists missing after their arrests
ISSUES: Enforced disappearance, torture, rule of law, impunity
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-197-2017
18 November 2017
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PAKISTAN: Baloch student leader and four other activists missing after their arrests
ISSUES: Enforced disappearance, torture, rule of law, impunity
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the disappearance of five activists belonging to the Baloch Student Organization Azad (BSO-Azad) and Baloch National Movement (BNA), and eight Balochs who were living in the vicinity of student leaders. Plain clothed men abducted all five men from Karachi, Sindh province, and their whereabouts are unknown. Given the recent surge in extrajudicial killings, the families of the disappeared men fear for their lives.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to information received by the AHRC on 28 October 2017, the Information Secretary of Baloch Human Rights Organization, Muhammad Nawaz, son of Atta Muhammad, was picked up by officials of intelligence agencies and rangers from Karachi. The incident took place in Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi at 2 a.m., when plain-clothed agents of secret agencies accompanied by Rangers' force raided the house of Muhammad Nawaz and abducted Muhammad Nawaz along with eight other minors. The women present in the house were severely tortured and injured.
The names of the abductees are as follows: Muhammad Nawaz, son of Atta Muhammad; Abid, son of Ashraf; Farhad, son of Anwar; Sajjad, son of Yar Jan; Ulfat, son of Altaf; Aftab, son of Muhammad Younis; Rawat, son of Taj Muhammad; Muhammad Arif, son of Muhammad Younis; and Ilyas, son of Faiz Muhammad.
Moreover on November 15, three political leaders of Baloch Student Organization Azad (BSO-A) and a member of Baloch National Movement (BNM) were abducted by officials of intelligence agencies: Sanaullah alias Ezzat Baloch, Secretary General of BSO-A, Hassam alias Nodaan, Central Committee member of BSO-A, Naseer Ahmed alias Chirag and Rafeeq Baloch alias Kam bar, member of Baloch National Movement.
According to details, the incident took place at the University Road, Karachi at 9 p.m. on November 15, when plain-clothed agents of secret agencies accompanied by Rangers force sealed the whole area, blocked the roads and raided the house of Sanaullah. Forces blindfolded all four of them and took them away. Since then their whereabouts remain unknown.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
During the third round of UPR, the Pakistani delegation comprising Minister for Foreign Affairs Khawja Asif, Baristor Zafarullah, Senator Aisha Farooq, and others categorically denied that the state is involved in enforced disappearance. Perhaps it has escaped the policy makers that the policy of denial is not workable anymore. Recently Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan while hearing a case of a missing person stated that, “The highest judicial office of the country has no answer to give to the loved ones of the missing persons who have been doing the rounds of the courts.”
Using enforced disappearances as the pretext of curbing terrorism has failed to win over the approval of the commune of nations as Pakistan is listed amongst the fifth most impacted country from terrorism after Syria and Afghanistan.
The Baloch genocide cannot be tolerated anymore; the government of Pakistan must take action to bring the perpetrators of disappearance to account and criminalize enforced disappearances forthwith.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, calling on them to ensure the safe recovery of the Baloch activists. It is essential that the government does not deal with Baloch citizens as the enemy. Please urge the authorities to criminalize enforced disappearances and penalize officials found transcending authority.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) calling for its intervention into this matter.
To support this appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Baloch student leader and four other activists missing after their arrests
Name of victims:
Sanaullah alias Ezzat Baloch son of Mohammad Ismail, national identity card 51102-367629-3, resident of Balochistan province
Hassam son of Ghulam Mohammad, national identity card 52205-7770868-1,resident of Balochistan
Naseer Ahmed son of Sawali, national identity card 54401-7098423-7, resident of Balochistan
Rafeeq Baloch aka Kam bar,
Muhammad Nawaz son of Atta Muhammad, resident of Gichk, district Panjgor, Balochistan
Abid son of Ashraf, Farhad son of Anwar, Sajjad son of Yar Jan, Ulfat son of Altaf, Aftab son of Muhammad Younis, Rawat Son of Taj Muhammad, Muhammad Arif son of Muhammad Younis, Ilyas son of Faiz Muhammad
Names of the perpetrators: State intelligence agencies
Date of incidence: October 27 and November 15, 2017
Place of incident: Gulistan-e-Johar, University of Karachi
I am concerned regarding the disappearance of five activists belonging to the Baloch Student Organization Azad (BSO-Azad) and Baloch National Movement (BNA), and eight Balochs who were living in the vicinity of student leaders. Plain clothed men abducted all five men from Karachi, Sindh province, and their whereabouts are unknown. Given the recent surge in extrajudicial killings, the families of the disappeared men fear for their lives.
According to information received by me that on 28 October 2017, the Information Secretary of Baloch Human Rights Organization, Muhammad Nawaz, son of Atta Muhammad, was picked up by officials of intelligence agencies and rangers from Karachi. The incident took place in Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi at 2 a.m., when plain-clothed agents of secret agencies accompanied by Rangers' force raided the house of Muhammad Nawaz and abducted Muhammad Nawaz along with eight other minors. The women present in the house were severely tortured and injured.
The names of the abductees are as follows: Muhammad Nawaz, son of Atta Muhammad; Abid, son of Ashraf; Farhad, son of Anwar; Sajjad, son of Yar Jan; Ulfat, son of Altaf; Aftab, son of Muhammad Younis; Rawat, son of Taj Muhammad; Muhammad Arif, son of Muhammad Younis; and Ilyas, son of Faiz Muhammad.
Moreover on November 15, three political leaders of Baloch Student Organization Azad (BSO-A) and a member of Baloch National Movement (BNM) were abducted by officials of intelligence agencies: Sanaullah alias Ezzat Baloch, Secretary General of BSO-A, Hassam alias Nodaan, Central Committee member of BSO-A, Naseer Ahmed alias Chirag and Rafeeq Baloch alias Kam bar, member of Baloch National Movement.
According to details, the incident took place at the University Road, Karachi at 9 p.m. on November 15, when plain-clothed agents of secret agencies accompanied by Rangers force sealed the whole area, blocked the roads and raided the house of Sanaullah. Forces blindfolded all four of them and took them away. Since then their whereabouts remain unknown.
I therefore urge you to ensure the safe recovery of the Baloch activists. It is essential that the government does not deal with Baloch citizens as the enemy. I also urge you to criminalize enforced disappearances and penalize officials found transcending authority.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111,
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Murad Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Federal Minister of Interior Affairs
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Minister For Human Rights
Through Secretary, Ministry of Human Right
ministry of human rights
State Life Building No. 5, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, China Chowk,
Islamabad
Tel: 051-9216620,
Fax: 051-9216621,
Email: secretary@mohr.gov.pk
5. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
7. Mr. Anwar Sial
Home Minister,
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariat
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
8. Justice Majida Rizvi
Regional Directorate of Human Rights,
Block no. 5, Sindh Secretariat No.4-A, Frere Road, Karachi.
Ph: 92-21-99205835
Fax: 92-21-99205837
Email: justicerazvi@hotmail.com
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)