Karachi, June 26: Awami Workers Party (AWP) Federal Leadership condemns in the strongest possible terms the unjustified abduction of AWP Sindh National Committee member and councilor Balach Seengar Noonari and demands his immediate release.
The party also demands action against the security personnel who illegally barged into his house and whisked him away without any reason.
Noonari was abducted from his home by Rangers’ personnel in plainclothes last night.
“His only crime is that he is actively mobilizing indigenous poor people against the tyranny and occupation of their ancestral land by real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and other powerful real estate societies in Sindh,” AWP president Yousuf Mustikhan said in a statement.
“The irony of the fact is that instead of protecting the people, the police and security agencies who are getting salaries from taxpayers’ money are acting like private goons of the real estate mafia.”
He said that it was even more astonishing that the PPP which claims to be the champions of democracy has become a tool in repression against political activists in Sindh.
Yousuf Mustikhan said that the only crime of Seegar is that he is the son of a poor farmer. He has been active in mobilizing the poor people against the feudal lords in his area of Nasirabad, Larkana, around a pro-poor alternative programme and raising his voice for their rights.
Noonari always followed the path of peaceful struggle and fought against the remnants of feudalism within the ambit of the law.
The AWP president warned that if Noonari was not released, the party with the help of other [progressive and democratic forces would turn tomorrow’s nationwide day of action against land grabbing and evictions in Karachi into a long-drawn movement against this outdated exploitative system, the imperialist powers and its ruling clique and the hybrid regime.
Yousuf Mustikhan appealed to all progressive, nationalist and democratic forces to join the nationwide protest on June 27 at the call of the party against land grabbing, demolish of the houses of the poor in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the AWP Larkana staged a protest rally from Noonari Mahal to Naseerabad Press Club against the abduction of comrade Noonari.
A large number of women and children took part in the protest. Addressing the protesters, Khan Ghaffar Khan, Youth Secretary, AWP, Sindh, condemned the abduction of Noonari and termed it an undemocratic act. He said the party would resist such tactics.
“Peaceful political struggle is our constitutional fundamental right, which is being taken away from us,” he said.
Murtaza Chandio, leader of Shehri Ittehad Naseerabad, also condemned the arrest of Noonari.
“I am proud of my son,” said Noonari’s mother.
“Our brother’s only crime is that we are fighting for our rights peacefully. We demand the immediate release of Noonari,” said Abida Noonari, leader of the Women Democratic Front and sister of Seengar Noonari.