Daily Times

KHAIRPUR: The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) expressed full solidarity with the struggle that aims for immediate recovery and release of missing persons in Sindh.

SANA President Muhammad Ali Mahar issued a statement from Austin in United Stated of America and urged the government agencies to stop ‘unlawful’ arrests, abductions, torture and killing of activists.

“Rule of law must be established and all unconstitutional activities must stop,” the statement said.

SANA strongly condemned the attack by the Sindh police and rangers on the hunger-strike camp organised by relatives of the missing persons at the front of Karachi Press Club (KPC).

A brutal force and violence was observed during the attack on the peaceful protest camp where people were gathered to demand release of their relatives who have been missing for many months or years.

Consequently, the agencies also detained four people from the protesters’ camp.

SANA further condemned police action against the protesters’ camp at National Press Club in Islamabad. They also demanded release of missing persons.

SANA further said that if it is a democracy, people secure a fundamental right to protest and express their opinion.

The government and its institutions must respect the law and should not use force, violence or strong-arm tactics against the protesters.

“No law in the world allows undeclared arrests, abductions, torture and murder of citizens,” the statement further said while adding that the Constitution of Pakistan also guarantees safety, security and basic human rights.

Moreover, the government must recover all missing persons and ensure their release from the unlawful captivity, however if there is any evidence against them, it should be produced before the court of law and they should be given a fair trial.

SANA urged the government to respect constitution of the land and avoid ‘law of jungle’. Unlawful, unjust and brutal policies will further deteriorate the situation and stability of the country. Instead, the government should try solving public issues.

Published in Daily Times, May 27^th 2018.