Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the abduction of a Christian employee, serving as a car driver, by local group Baldia town. It was the second time he was kidnapped and since December 19 was reported to have been tortured by the member of the assembly. Five months ago, the employee was already abducted and kept in a torture cell for a night and forced to confess that he was a blasphemer.
Two days after the abduction, the victim was recovered in the servant quarters of the assembly member. He was however arrested due to accusations of possession of illegal arms and he was sent to jail, while the assembly member was not arrested for the abduction, torture and illegal detention of the employee.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to Mr. Allah Rakha, father of the victim, at 2 a.m., Dec.19, more than a dozen of police officials and plain-clothed persons entered their house and abducted his son, Gulfam Masih. The culprits were said to have brought ladders in a police van to access the third floor of their residence to catch Gulfam. When his family members tried to follow the abductors they found that their exit door was locked from the behind. The abductors told them then that they are people from Mr. Salman Mujahid Baloch, the member of national assembly (MNA).
On the same night, the father, Allah and his other family members went to lodge the first information report (FIR) at the Rizwia police station, however, the police refused to accept the case against Baloch due to the latter’s political position and close connection with Sindh Rangers, the military force.
The Pakistani government has had many cases of corruption, vandalism and even harassment of elected women members of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation during the session. Now he joined a new political party-PSP, which is allegedly made by the Sindh Rangers. Therefore, he is again in the target list of the military. In 2007, Baloch was reported to have beaten a woman during the session of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
please see the link, http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/UA-148-2007
The MNA has the backing of the police as their gunmen for his security. Last July the gunmen already abducted Gulfam and took him to the resident of Baloch who lives in the Defense housing authority which is 10 kilometers far from the house of Gulfam. Baloch kept him for the whole night in a servant quarter, and underwent different torture.
Baloch himself tortured Gulfam to confess his blasphemy, bringing pages from the Quran and asking the victim to burn it so can take a video as proof. The victim was forced into extortion and will be provided protection from the political party-MQM, which controls the urban centers of Sindh province. In first abduction the MNA and his security guards, Gulfam’s motor bike was kept for punishment and security.
Gulfam started collecting extortion money from officers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and also from big businessmen. Every month, Baloch increased the size of extortion and sometimes the Gulfam has to surrender his salary. The member of the assembly was also said to have frequently use abusive language against the Christians.
Masih was detained at the Karachi prison since Dec. 21, authorities do not allow his family members to see him nor allowed to send food for him.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities calling them to take immediate action against Mr. Salman Muhajid Baloch, member of the national assembly for the abduction of Gulfam and the succeeding torture that he went through. The offender must also be charged with trying to use blasphemy law against the Christian employee for his personal benefits. Mr. Gulfam Masih, the victim, must then be released immediately and all the fictitious cases against him must be withdrawn. He must also be paid compensation for his ordeals.
For example, “The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of right to faith and religion, calling for his intervention into this matter”.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: Salman Mujahid Baloch-MNA, must be arrested for abduction and torture of a Christian man
Name of victim:
Mr. Gulfam Masih son of Allah Rakha Masih, resident of Siraj Colony, Rizwia society, Nazimabad district, Karachi,
Names of alleged perpetrators:
Mr. Salman Mujahid, member National Assembly, resident of Defence Housing Authority, Karachi
Date of incident: December 19, 2017
Place of incident: Siraj Colony, Nazimabad, Karachi, Sindh province
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the abduction of a Christian employee, serving as a car driver, by local group Baldia town. It was the second time he was kidnapped and since December 19 was reported to have been tortured by the member of the assembly. Five months ago, the employee was already abducted and kept in a torture cell for a night and forced to confess that he was a blasphemer.
I am shocked to know that two days after the abduction, the victim was recovered in the servant quarters of the assembly member. He was however arrested due to accusations of possession of illegal arms and he was sent to jail, while the assembly member was not arrested for the abduction, torture and illegal detention of the employee.
I received the information according to Mr. Allah Rakha, father of the victim, at 2 a.m., Dec.19, more than a dozen of police officials and plain-clothed persons entered their house and abducted his son, Gulfam Masih. The culprits were said to have brought ladders in a police van to access the third floor of their residence to catch Gulfam. When his family members tried to follow the abductors they found that their exit door was locked from the behind. The abductors told them then that they are people from Mr. Salman Mujahid Baloch, the member of national assembly (MNA).
On the same night, the father, Allah and his other family members went to lodge the first information report (FIR) at the Rizwia police station, however, the police refused to accept the case against Baloch due to the latter’s political position and close connection with Sindh Rangers, of Pakistan military.
I am distressed to know that the Pakistani government has had many cases of corruption, vandalism and even harassment of elected women members of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation during the session. Now he joined a new political party-PSP, which is allegedly made by the Sindh Rangers. Therefore, he is again in the target list of the military. In 2007, Baloch was reported to have beaten a woman during the session of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
please see the link, http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/UA-148-2007
The MNA has the backing of the police as their gunmen for his security. Last July the gunmen already abducted Gulfam and took him to the resident of Baloch who lives in the Defense housing authority which is 10 kilometers far from the house of Gulfam. Baloch kept him for the whole night in a servant quarter, and underwent different torture.
Please see this practice but I wonder why no authority take Action against him. Baloch himself tortured Gulfam to confess his blasphemy, bringing pages from the Quran and asking the victim to burn it so can take a video as proof. The victim was forced into extortion and will be provided protection from the political party-MQM, which controls the urban centers of Sindh province. In first abduction the MNA and his security guards, Gulfam’s motor bike was kept for punishment and security.
Gulfam started collecting extortion money from officers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and also from big businessmen. Every month, Baloch increased the size of extortion and sometimes the Gulfam has to surrender his salary. The member of the assembly was also said to have frequently use abusive language against the Christians.
Masih was detained at the Karachi prison since Dec. 21, authorities do not allow his family members to see him nor allowed to send food for him.
I, therefore, urge you to take immediate action against Mr. Salman Muhajid Baloch, member of the national assembly for the abduction of Gulfam and the succeeding torture that he went through. The offender must also be charged with trying to use blasphemy law against the Christian employee for his personal benefits. Mr. Gulfam Masih, the victim, must then be released immediately and all the fictitious cases against him must be withdrawn. He must also be paid compensation for his ordeals.
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111,
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Murad Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Federal Minister of Interior Affairs
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Minister For Human Rights
Through Secretary, Ministry of Human Right
ministry of human rights
State Life Building No. 5, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, China Chowk,
Islamabad
Tel: 051-9216620,
Fax: 051-9216621,
Email: secretary@mohr.gov.pk
5. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
7. Mr. Anwar Sial
Home Minister,
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariat
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
8. Justice Majida Rizvi
Regional Directorate of Human Rights,
Block no. 5, Sindh Secretariat No.4-A, Frere Road, Karachi.
Ph: 92-21-99205835
Fax: 92-21-99205837
Email: justicerazvi@hotmail.com
9. Ms. Anis Haroon
Member, National Commission for Human Rights, Government of Pakistan
State Life Building No. 3, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi, Pakistan
Phone No. +92 21 99201638
Fax: +92 21 99201641
Email: anisharoon4@gmail.com
Yours Sincerely,
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
