Documento - PAKISTAN."Desaparición" / Temor de tortura

PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 33/032/2005

09 December 2005

UA 309/05 "Disappearance"/Fear of torture

PAKISTAN Dr Haneef Shareef (m)

Dr Haneef Shareef, a member of the Balochistan Students' Organisation (BSO), was arrested on 18 November. The authorities have not acknowledged his arrest, and his whereabouts are now unknown. As a BSO member he is in grave danger of torture.

A writer and medical doctor, he was reportedly sitting with some friends in a restaurant by his house in the city of Turbat, Balochistan, when at around 7pm five armed men in the uniform of the paramilitary Frontier Corps got out of a white pick-up truck and asked Dr Haneef to go with them, without giving a reason. According to witnesses they took him to a nearby Frontier Corps camp. State officials have refused to confirm that he has been arrested. When his family members attempted to file a complaint against the Frontier Corps soldiers involved, police at the Turbat city police station refused to accept it.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The BSO is active in highlighting the plight of the Baloch people, who live mainly in the south-western province of Balochistan and have historically been excluded from the benefits of resource development in the area. They have campaigned for the Baloch people to receive a greater share of the revenue from the natural gas produced in the region: the province houses Pakistan's main gas plant, but local people receive little benefit from it. Baloch armed groups have attacked military installations in protest at this, and in retaliation the army have allegedly killed a number of villagers. The BSO have campaigned on these alleged unlawful killings.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of Dr Haneef Shareef, who was arrested by Frontier Corps soldiers on 18 November and whose whereabouts are now unknown;

- expressing concern that Turbat City police officers refused to accept a complaint about this incident, and calling for an investigation, with the officers involved removed from duty;

- urging the authorities to reveal his whereabouts immediately, and ensure that he is not tortured or ill-treated;

- calling for him to be released immediately and unconditionally, unless he is charged with a recognizably criminal offence.

APPEALS TO:

President Pervez Musharraf

Pakistan Secretariat

Islamabad, Pakistan

Fax: + 92 51 922 1422

E-mail: CE@pak.gov.pk

Salutation: Dear President Musharraf

Mr. Muhammad Wasi Zafar

Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights

S Block, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan

Fax: + 92 51 920 2628

E-Mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

Salutation: Dear Minister

Governor of Balochistan

Awais Ghani

Governor House

Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

Fax: + 92 81 920 2178

+ 92 81 920 2992

Salutation: Dear Governor

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Pakistan accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 20 January 2006.