• The answer is simple. A confident and educated Sindhi challenges the old system of control, challenges the colonial-style dominance of the security and bureaucratic establishment

Dr. Muhammad Mataro Hingorjo | Ireland

Across Sindh today, young Sindhi nationalists who believe in peace, democracy, and human rights are being forcibly disappeared. The recent abduction of Comrade Ghani Aman Chandio from a hospital, and the disappearance of Sarmad Mirani from Sachal Goth, show a painful truth: the state wants to silence the most educated and thoughtful voices of Sindh.

These young activists are not extremists. They are students, poets, writers, social organizers, and followers of Sindh’s Sufi and literary traditions. They love Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and feel proud of Sindh’s peaceful heritage. They speak with knowledge, logic, and courage. They expose injustice boldly. And because they are well-educated and confident, they are seen as a danger by those in power.

Since the first day of Pakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Seraiki Waseb, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region have been treated like colonies by a powerful security establishment together with a strong bureaucratic establishment. The main aim has always been to take control of the land, rivers, minerals, ports, and the economy of these regions, while trying to keep local nations weak, divided, and voiceless. When Sindhis demand their basic rights in a peaceful way, they are targeted.

The experience of Moro town is a very clear example. The young people of Moro are known for loving Shah Latif, for being well-educated, and for standing bravely in defense of Sindh’s resources and culture. They are not violent. They only want justice. Perhaps because they combine knowledge, identity, and courage, they were seen as a serious threat. When the youth of Moro raised their voice against the unfair control of water and land, the security establishment reacted with force. Moro was attacked. Homes were raided. Children and youngsters were arrested, tortured, or killed. The message was simple: stop producing educated Sindhi minds who can speak for their rights.

What makes the situation even more painful is the double standard. Groups who spread fear, sectarian hatred, or violence in Karachi and other cities seem to enjoy freedom and support. They are given space in politics. They are given media time. They are treated softly. At the same time, peaceful Sindhi nationalists are picked up from their homes, streets, and hospitals without any legal case. This clearly shows that the state fears knowledge more than violence. It fears educated political thought more than guns.

Today, Pakistan is facing serious geopolitical stress and real dangers on its international borders. But instead of strengthening unity with its own people, the security and bureaucratic establishment are turning against them. They seem to believe that powerful countries in the world will always protect them and solve their problems. This is a big mistake. No state can survive external threats if its own people are angry, hurt, and oppressed. A country cannot defend itself by fighting its own citizens.

The real question is: why is the state so afraid of peaceful and educated Sindhis? The answer is simple. A confident and educated Sindhi challenges the old system of control, challenges the colonial-style dominance of the security and bureaucratic establishment. Sindh’s educated youth can speak in international forums about the exploitation of their land and rights. And this is what the powerful do not want.

But let it be very clear. The people of Sindh have not given up in the past 78 years. They will not give up now. You can abduct a person, but you cannot abduct the truth. You can try to silence a voice, but you cannot silence an entire nation forever. When one Sindhi activist is disappeared, many new voices rise to continue the struggle.

Sindh stands with Ghani Aman Chandio, with Sarmad Mirani, and with every missing son and daughter of its soil. The peaceful struggle for justice will go on. The nations of Sindh, Balochistan, Seraiki Waseb, and KPK will continue to demand dignity and equality. There can be no real peace until enforced disappearances end and all political prisoners are released.

Read: Might and Myths Should Not Rule

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Dr. Muhammad Mataro Hingorjo is a Family Physician originally from village Dhandhi Hingorja, Tharpakar, Sindh, currently residing in Limerick Ireland.

The post Silencing Sindh’s Young Intellectuals first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Civil Society leaders raise voice against enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings of citizens

Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) and other organizations of civil society have warned the government that the use of blind state force against civil liberties may bring very serious consequences.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club here, they said that enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings of citizens are blatant violations of local and international human rights. “The anti-human excesses of the state institutions against the citizens, especially Baloch people, are brewing a serious crisis,” they added.

The civil society leaders said that recent sad incidents of extra judicial killings of Baloch youths in Turbat, and police torture and arrests of the protest marchers in Islamabad, and attack on their camp by unknown people show that the state and its institutions are bent to violate the constitutional and democratic rights of people.

They said that when a peaceful rally was staged in Karachi against the above-mentioned undemocratic attitude of the state, fake cases of sedation and other serious allegations were lodged against 260 people including NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor, HRCP central council member Saeed Baloch, Jeay Sindh Mahaz leader Illahi Bux Bikak and Yekjahiti Committee organiser Abdul Wahid Baloch.

Also read: ‘A looming threat’: In Pakistan, enforced disappearances silence dissent

They said that political and social activists and journalists are constantly being harassed through different institutions. Similar cases lodged against the political and social workers for holding protests are equally condemnable. However, the politically aware circles of the country fully endorse the demands of the Baloch March and participants of their sit-in in Islamabad.

They said that they want to tell the state and its institutions that the basis of Pakistan is democracy and unity of the federal units. However, sadly the basic norms of the constitution and democracy are being continuously violated, whose proof is the forced disappearances of thousands of citizens, especially Balochs, extra judicial killings, mass arrests and fake police cases. It is quite unfortunate that the major political parties, elected houses and courts have failed to check these illegal activities and take action against the elements involved in them. They said that it is the requirement of the law and constitution that these elements should be punished as per law and their excesses against the citizens should be stopped for good.

Also read: Pakistan Court Holds State Responsible for Enforced Disappearances

They demanded that the fake cases against political, labor and human rights activists should be withdrawn; forced disappearances and extra judicial killings must be stopped; all disappeared political and social workers and journalists should be immediately released and those involved in these crimes should be punished.

They demanded that the arrested participants of the Islamabad sit-in should be released and the demands of the sit-in participants should be accepted.

Those spoke included Asad Iqbal Butt chairman HRCP, Zehra Khan General Secretary Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), Dr. Riaz Shaikh Dean Social Sciences and Education ZABIST, Anees Haroon Chairman National Commission for Human Rights, Gul Rehman president of NTUF Sindh, Dr. Asghar Dashti Chairman International Relations Department Federal Urdu University, Shafiq Sheikh of Awami Workers Federation, Amir Waraich President Karachi Bar Association, Abdul Khaliq Zardan Convenor Awami Huqooq Tehreek, Kami Sid transgender Activist, Muhib Azad General Secretary Sindh Sujahg Forum and Aqib Hussain of Alternate.

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The post Use of state force against civil liberties: Pakistan Govt. warned of serious consequences’ first appeared on Sindh Courier.