World Sindhi Congress activist Dr. Hidayat Bhutto has underscored the “rampant violations” of human rights committed by Pakistan in Sindh during the 38th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) .
“The Pakistani establishment is ruthlessly crushing every voice and struggle of Sindhi people against the cruel loot and occupation of their resources and lands، pushing them into perpetual poverty, malnutrition, social injustice, and disease. Additionally, the state is aggressively pursuing construction of multi-billion China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) without any consideration of rights of indigenous Sindhi people and the environment,” Dr. Hidayat Bhutto said at the ongoing 38th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.
Dr. Bhutto went on to say that the Pakistani state has been using enforced disappearance of political activists as a tool to silence Sindhi people for the last several years.
“Over 1200 cases of missing persons in Sindh have been reported since 2010. The past year has seen a surge in cases with more than 170 people enforced disappeared since February 2017, including Hidayat Lohar, Khadim Arejo, Aaquib Chandio, Naveed Chandio and Murtaza Solangi,” he added.
According to the statement Pakistan has further increased its systematic efforts to spread religious fundamentalism and violence against Sindhi Hindus, including forced conversion of young girls.
Dr. Bhutto further requested the council to take action to protect the rights of Sindhi people and to end the enforced disappearance.
He also asked the council to bring the perpetrators to justice and to hold the Pakistani government accountable.