2 August 2000
On 1 August 2000, the personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies raided a house in Block-9, Azizabad in Karachi and unlawfully arrested Khursheed Mukarram, Member of MQM Muttahida Organising Committee (MOC).
According to details, Khursheed Mukarram was visiting his relatives when a heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement agencies surrounded the area and raided the house. He was immediately subjected to torture, dumped into a waiting police van and taken to unknown destination. Till the filing of this report his whereabouts are not known and despite all the efforts of the MQM leadership, the administration of Karachi have not yet even confirmed his arrest. It is important to note that since the commencement of the Army Operation against the MQM on 19 June 1992, similar tactics have been employed by the police and other law enforcement agencies to abduct, torture and even extra-judicially murder more than 15000 MQM leaders, workers and supporters. Therefore, it is our strong apprehension that at present he is being subjected to brutal torture and forced to sign a pre-written confessional statement.
Under such circumstances we fear that the life of Mr Khursheed Mukarram is in extreme danger. It is, therefore, earnestly requested to the national and international human rights organisations throughout the world to take immediate and urgent action to save an innocent life from becoming another victim of State persecution against the Mohajir Nation in general and MQM in particular.