Aug 14: Shaheed Gulzar Marri

Missing stories from Sindh

Punhal Sario’s abduction, followed by more disappearances, has raised questions about Sindh’s missing persons

By: Fehmida Riaz

Followed by protests and a long march by the families of Baloch missing persons, of late it is the missing persons of Sindh that are making headlines. The abduction of Punhal Sario on August 3, a renowned human rights activist, head of Sindh Hari Porhyat Council and convener of the recently established Voice for Missing Persons (VMP) Sindh, has shaken many human rights activists and organisations.

A few days after Sario went missing, on the evening of August 7, three more well-known social activists were picked up from their homes in Mithi city of Tharparkar. According to their families, teacher and educationist Partab Shivani, teacher and writer Naseer Kumbhar, and a leader of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Mohammad Umer, were ‘abducted’ by plainclothes officials along with Tharparkar police personnel. Tharparkar SSP Ameer Saud Magsi told local journalists that he has no information regarding their ‘abduction’.

14 August; Black Day