Two Baloch students go ‘missing’ in Karachi

KARACHI: Despite the uproar by parliament and the general public, the citizens keep on ‘disappearing’ mysteriously.

Another Baloch student of Karachi University along with his younger brother has been whisked away from their residence in Maddu Goth, located just off of University Road, on Thursday.

The incident comes after a Karachi University student was ‘kidnapped’ from the campus less than two months ago.

Mumtaz Sajidi Baloch and his brother Kamran Sajidi were reportedly picked by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel in plainclothes, accompanied by a heavy contingent of police at around 4 am on Thursday.

WORRYING….A Baloch student Mumtaz Sajidi studying in IR Masters at Karachi Uni & his brother picked up this morning at 4 am from Maddu Goth residence. Faculty members say he is a peace loving student and vocal for civil rights. Activists still await #FindRaza return in Lahore

— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) January 4, 2018

Mumtaz, a student of KU’s International Relations programme, and Kamran, an intermediate graduate, belong to a middle-class family hailing from Balochistan’s Khuzdar district.

Mumtaz is not a part of any political organisation, but has been active in civil society protests, Dawn quoted a family contact as saying. The family of the disappeared youth is appealing for the release, it added.

Sindh Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Vice Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt corroborated the account, saying police and plainclothes personnel who arrived in “vehicles without number plates” picked up the two men.

The HRCP official stressed that if a crime was committed then these youth should be produced in the court of law.

“Protesting against the ‘disappearance’ of Sagheer Ahmed Baloch was his democratic right,” he added.

“If Baloch students are picked up in this manner, the situation will move towards anarchy,” said the HRCP official.

CIVIL SOCIETY PROTESTS THE DISAPPEARANCES: 

Mumtaz’s ‘disappearance’ was strongly protested by civil rights activists and academics, who called for an end to the heinous practice of enforced disappearances.

Mumtaz Sajidi (pictured left next to me) was picked up early this morning along with his brother by plain clothed men. Why? No one knows. The practice of #enforceddisappearances must stop now! #FindSajidi #FindRaza @HRCP_PK @ShahNafisa @sharmeenochinoy @MJibranNasir @amnesty pic.twitter.com/vDil7zSo76

— Nida Kirmani (@nidkirm) January 4, 2018

After #SagheerBaloch another #KU student #MumtazSajidi goes missing today. UNF abducting peaceful activists has just become a routine now.
End #ForcedDisappearances and #RecoverThemAll#FindRaza #FindMumtaz pic.twitter.com/CR8uKioenr

— Afraid Canvas (@AfraidCanvas) January 4, 2018

A human rights activist Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur protested the increase in the disappearance of Baloch students, saying being “being a Baloch and educated is a crime in Pakistan”.

#SaveMumtazSajidi
Mumtaz Sajidi a student of Karachi University was picked up by State Agencies today.
Being #Baloch and #Educated is a Crime in #Pakistan.
Not that being ordinary uneducated Baloch is any guarantee for your #Safety.
Being #Baloch is a Crime here. pic.twitter.com/yMBE5v5ypI

— Mohammad Ali Talpur (@mmatalpur) January 4, 2018

On November 20, Sagheer, a second-year student in the Political Science Department at KU, was having tea near the Visual Studies Department when several persons showed up in a car and two motorbikes and whisked him away.