The brother and his son of Qamar Sherazi, a leader of Labour Party Pakistan Saraiki Waseeb were abducted from their homes in Laya district on 11 October 2008 by dozens of police men in uniform and in plain cloths. Mohammed Sharif and his son Mohammed Zeeshan are in the custody of police and no one knows where the are kept. The police have alleged the two for promoting religious fundamentalism but nothing in writings.
Qamar Sherizi is cultural and educational secretary of labour Party Pakistan Saraiki Waseeb and is a journalist and publisher. He joined LPP in 1997 and has played a leading role in promoting the party since then. Qamar Sherazi was initially inspired by the ideas of religious fundamentalism however; he left then in 1997 to join LPP. His brother and son have nothing to do with any religious organization or any religious fundamentalist group. They are ordinary traders in Laya and run a shop.
Qamar Sherazi has written a lot of letters to all the officials of police, and PPP government. He has filed a petition at Lahore High Court that is still to be heard.
Today on 29 October, dozens of LPP activists demonstrated at Shimla Pehari Chouck to demand an immediate release of the two. They went in front of the American Consulate to protest. Later, they took out a rally and shouted slogans like, “stop kidnapping citizens, Do not act as agent of American imperialism, where are you keeping missing persons, Missing today as was under Musharraf, Stop the state repression and gangsterism”.
Addressing the gathering, Qamar Sherazi told the details of the kidnapping. "They came at 3 am at our house to drag the two, my brother and his son. The son had to take his exam for Bsc very next day, now his one academic year is lost. They told us that we are taking them to question and will release them soon. Those who came to kidnap my relatives are Malik Mohammed Asharaf, SHO Laya city politice station, Sakandar Hayat, SHO Hyderabad police station district Bhakar, Fida Hussain, ASI, Incharge CID Laya. They are all known police officers and from intelligence services. They told us not to worry. Very next morning they denied that the two are with them. They are telling lies to us. A week later, Malik Mohammed Ashara, SHO who came to kidnap the two asked me to come to police station. He told me that the two are cleared from the allegations of terrorism and will be released tomorrow from a Lahore intelligence center. That tomorrow has not yet come despite two weeks. That did not happen. Then I met the Superintendent of Police in Laya, and told me that the two will be released soon after the completion of the investigation. I presented that affidavits from the traders association, goldsmith association, and the association of the citizens of Laya to declare that the two kidnapped has nothing to do with terrorism. Several delegations from different trade unions and press club association have also met the top police officer to tell that truth. However, nothing helped.
Finally, I came to Lahore LPP central secretariat to tell the details. My whole family is upset. What has happened? We are normal citizens of Pakistan. If my brother and his son are involved in any crime, treat them according to the law. I have no objections to that. However, I know my family; we are not involved in terrorist activities. We are from LPP that is fighting religious fundamentalism. We are not promoters of religious fanaticism. But why my brother and many more are missing in Pakistan. There is no law. The government is acting to please the American Imperialism" Qamr Sherazi told the demonstrators.
Speaking on the occasion, Rana Aslam, general secretary LPP Lahore gave a warning to police to release the two, LPP will not sit quit on this abduction. Several hundreds are missing from Pakistan. Government denies all the time. Now this fresh case, they have started attacking Labour party Pakistan. We will fight back. There will be more demonstrations across Pakistan. We will launch an international appeal as well on the question. We will organise the missing persons and will do what we can do in this regard.
Earlier, LPP general secretary Nisar Shah and spokesperson Farooq Tariq issued a joint press release demanding the release of the two kidnapped.
LPP is issuing an international appeal for the release of the two.
Farooq Tariq
spokesperson
Labour Party Pakistan
40-Abbot Road Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6271149 Mobile: 92 300 8411945
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