HRCP expresses deep concern on abduction of Muzaffar Bhutto; Gen. Secretary JSMM

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HPCP) in a press release has expressed deep concern about Mr. Muzaffar Bhutto, General Secretary of Jeay Sindh Muttaheda Mahaz (JSMM) -- a nationalist party of Sindh, who has been abducted for the second time allegedly by the agencies.

According to details, he was traveling in his car with his wife and younger brother on 25 February 2011, when they reached Saeeabad Tool Plaza, Hyderabad his car was stopped by plain clothed people statedly belonging to intelligence agencies of Pakistan and he was taken away.

Mrs. Muzaffar Bhutto approached police to register an FIR. After the refusal of the police to register FIR, she approached Supreme Court and Sindh High Court.

Mr. Bhutto’s wife apprehends that her husband might be tortured in detention and there is threat to his life.  According to Mrs. Muzaffar Bhutto her husband suffers from ulcer and asthma in addition to discomfort as a result of back-bone surgery due to injuries sustained whilst allegedly being tortured during his previous abduction on 6 October 2005 by the agencies. He was kept in illegal custody till 6 November 2006 and then he was handed over to Jamshoro police which implicated him in false cases. He was tried by an Anti-terrorist court but was released on 5 January 2009. Mr. Bhutto told his relatives that he was kept in illegal custody by the country’s top secret agency. He was also tried under different cases but was either acquitted or on bail.

The HRCP has demanded that he should be provided proper medical treatment in detention, his whereabouts and reasons for his arrest are disclosed, his immediate release if he is not to be charged with a cognizable criminal offense and to allow the family of the detainee to meet him besides he should be provided lawyers’ access. It has further requested the President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister Sindh and governor Sindh to protect him from torture and other ill-treatment while he is in detention and look into the matter personally on humanitarian grounds.