112 missing persons’ cases reported in ‘14 | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

112 missing persons’ cases reported in ‘14

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Civil Society Organisations on Thursday said 112 cases of missing persons were reported in Sindh during year 2014 and the situation in the province was turning similar to that of Balochistan where several people went missing and their tortured bodies were later found dumped.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club by members of Joint Action Committee, HRCP vice chairman Asad Iqbal Butt said 112 people went missing during 2014. Out of which, 35 of them were killed through torture and their bodies were dumped in different areas of the province.

“Around 55 missing people were recovered during the year,” he said. The missing people belonged from different political and other organisations. He alleged these people were abducted by the police. An officer on condition of anonymity said those who went missing were in the custody of law enforcement agencies. “The law enforcement authorities should understand that these steps will increase hatred towards them,” he said. If a person has committed any crime, he should be presented before the court.

HRCP chairperson Zohra Yousuf said unfortunate incidents that earlier created resentment among Baloch people were now being witnessed in Sindh also. She said that Roshan Brohi, Asif Panhwar, Paryal Shah, Waheed Lashari were killed after being kidnapped and their relatives had accused the law enforcement agencies of this act. They said on December 11, a joint action committee Karachi held its meeting and expressed concern over these killings. “Majority of those who were abducted by the security agencies were found killed,” they said. The provincial government was responsible to seek explanation from the security authorities over these acts.

Pilar representative Karamat Ali said they had written letters to the high ups in the government over forced disappearances but none of them responded. “We will file a petition over the missing people in the court soon. If forced disappearances will continue then the citizens cannot feel free to enjoy their complete rights,” he added.

KIDNAPPERS’ GANG BUSTED

Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), jointly with the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), claimed to have busted a gang involved in more than half dozen cases of kidnapping for ransom in Karachi.

Their arrests were disclosed during a joint press conference held by the AVCC and the CPLC on Friday evening. AVCC chief SSP Muqaddas Haider said the gang had recently kidnapped a milk trader namely Sher Muhammad from Sohrab Goth on December 10 and was demanding Rs5 million ransom money from the family to release him. He also warned the family of dire consequences. SSP Haider said the AVCC police, in collaboration with the CPLC, managed to trace the hideout of the kidnappers near Mewashah graveyard in Pak Colony and recovered an abducted trader safely from the captivity of the kidnappers.

The gang comprises seven members including four brothers Sikandar, Abdul Rasheed, Abdul Jabbar and Abdul Aziz while Gulshan, his brother Ali Nawaz and their comrade Naveed were behind running the gang. “All these gang members have been arrested,” said CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy. “They are involved in around eight similar cases of the kidnapping for ransom.” A case has been registered against them while further investigation is underway.

The Nation