In a significant demonstration of unity, various organizations including the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VMP-Sindh), Sindh Sajagi Forum, Baloch Yakjehati Committee, Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP), and Shia Missing Persons jointly organized the ‘Missing Persons Azadi March.’ The event witnessed a substantial turnout and saw participants hailing from diverse backgrounds such as Sindhi, Baloch, Muhajir, and Pashtuns. The march spanned from Friar Hall to the Press Club in Karachi, amplifying the call for attention to those who have gone “missing”.
Surath Lohar, the leader of the VMP-Sindh addressed the media, revealing a concerning escalation in operations by Pakistani forces. Over the past eight months, more than forty nationalist activists from different regions of Sindh have reportedly been subjected to forced disappearances, Lohar said.
Disclosing the names of the victims, Lohar said; among them are Shah Inayat Marri, a CA student from Karachi, Danish Mojai from Mehrabpur, Waheed Ghangroo and Dildar Lashari from Mirpurkhas, Naeem Malukani, and Rawal Malukani from Qazi Ahmed and Tando Adam, as well as Rashid Shar, Qarb Shar, and Saadat Shar from Karachi.
Lohar further stated that these incidents highlight a pattern of enforced disappearances carried out by Pakistani agencies. This comes in addition to previous cases of disappearance involving numerous Sindhi activists such as Ayub Kandharu, Murtaza Junejo, Insaf Dayo, Pathan Khan Zahrani, Sarvich Nohani, Ejaz Gahu, Sohail Raza Bhatti, and Dr. Fateh Muhammad Khoso, who are reportedly missing for several years.
On the occasion of the International Day of Enforced Disappearances, she emphasized the need for global attention from entities such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission, and Human Rights Watch. These organizations should address the grave human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, committed by Pakistani forces in the regions of Sindh and Balochistan, she added.
Lohar reiterated the unwavering commitment to the cause, vowing to persist in the fight until all forcibly disappeared individuals from Sindh and Balochistan are brought to light and justice.
During this event, figures such as Sarang Joyo and Sohni Joyo from the Sindh Sajagi Forum, renowned Sindhi author Taj Joyo, Elahi Bakhsh Bakk of the Jasqam movement, representatives from the Baloch Solidarity Committee, and Asad Butt, a leader of HRCP, stood together. Alongside them were the relatives of those who had gone missing, hailing from Sindhi, Baloch, and Shia communities. They collectively raised their voices, calling for the safe return of their loved ones who have disappeared.
The issued statement also conveyed that the Sindh Sabha and Jiay Sindh Leaders Committee took significant actions across Sindh, encompassing locations such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Bathoro, Jamshoro, Kotri, Shaheed Kot, Tandojam, Dadu, Ranipur, Sobhudero, and Nawabshah. Rallies, demonstrations, and protests reverberated throughout these areas, collectively advocating for the release of the Sindhi activists who had gone missing.
Under the leadership of Sindhi Inam, the Sindh Sabha has established a protest camp right in front of the Islamabad Press Club. This dedicated camp is scheduled to persist for the following 48 hours.