Human rights activist goes missing
August 21, 2010
Karachi
Noted human rights activist Veerji Kolhi has gone missing, while his whereabouts are unknown since Thursday evening.
“Kolhi was last seen at an event at the Hyderabad Press Club at 4.00pm, where he spoke to his colleague from Gadi Khatta,” said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Sindh Taskforce Coordinator Dr Ashothama Lohano. “Since then, his mobile is swtiched off, and all attempts to find him have come to nought.”
HRCP activists said the police was informed late night on Thursday, as soon as all family members and friends confirmed that no contact was established with Kolhi.
Kolhi, who is also the coordinator of Mehergarh-Learning Center Islamabad at Hyderabad and member of the HRCP, played a key role against the recent gang rape incidents with minority girls and their kidnapping, with the most popular one being the rape incident with teenaged Kastoori Kolhi of Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar.
Veerji played an active role in bringing Kastoori Kolhi’s rape accused under the court of law, with moral support given by civil society organisations of the province. He was allegedly pressurised by Bachal Khoso, the father of the main accused, to compromise in the case, but Veerji refused, said Dr Ashothama.
A few days ago, Bachal Khoso came to his office with some seven unknown persons, and threatened Veerji of dire consequences if he failed to persuade Kastoori Kolhi and her parents to compromise.
Veerji has been receiving threats for long due to his role in helping the vulnerable and impoverished minorities throughout interior Sindh.
Some activists fear that Veerji may have been kidnapped to keep him away from the events organised on the death anniversary of Rooplo Kolhi, which was being held on August 22 in Nagarparkar.
Rooplo Kolhi was a freedom fighter, who fought in Karoonjhar Hills against the British rulers at Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar, and the Kolhi community of Nagarparkar celebrates the day annually.
The activists said the culprits involved in the Kastoori Kolhi rape case assumed that these people may instigate local people against them on the event.
Veerji was earlier threatened by Bachal Khoso’s men that his parents, who are still living in Nagarparkar, are not far from their reach if he could not keep quiet.
Fearing that their son’s life is in serious danger, his parents, alongwith the HRCP Sindh Taskforce coordinator, approached the Cantonment Police Station, believing that he was last seen in the jurisdiction of the same police station. The police plainly said they were already alert and no such incident occurred in their jurisdiction.
However, his brother Moolchand registered an FIR against the unknown people at the Cantonment Police Station.
Noted human rights activist Veerji Kolhi has gone missing, while his whereabouts are unknown since Thursday evening.
“Kolhi was last seen at an event at the Hyderabad Press Club at 4.00pm, where he spoke to his colleague from Gadi Khatta,” said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Sindh Taskforce Coordinator Dr Ashothama Lohano. “Since then, his mobile is swtiched off, and all attempts to find him have come to nought.”
HRCP activists said the police was informed late night on Thursday, as soon as all family members and friends confirmed that no contact was established with Kolhi.
Kolhi, who is also the coordinator of Mehergarh-Learning Center Islamabad at Hyderabad and member of the HRCP, played a key role against the recent gang rape incidents with minority girls and their kidnapping, with the most popular one being the rape incident with teenaged Kastoori Kolhi of Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar.
Veerji played an active role in bringing Kastoori Kolhi’s rape accused under the court of law, with moral support given by civil society organisations of the province. He was allegedly pressurised by Bachal Khoso, the father of the main accused, to compromise in the case, but Veerji refused, said Dr Ashothama.
A few days ago, Bachal Khoso came to his office with some seven unknown persons, and threatened Veerji of dire consequences if he failed to persuade Kastoori Kolhi and her parents to compromise.
Veerji has been receiving threats for long due to his role in helping the vulnerable and impoverished minorities throughout interior Sindh.
Some activists fear that Veerji may have been kidnapped to keep him away from the events organised on the death anniversary of Rooplo Kolhi, which was being held on August 22 in Nagarparkar.
Rooplo Kolhi was a freedom fighter, who fought in Karoonjhar Hills against the British rulers at Nagarparkar, District Tharparkar, and the Kolhi community of Nagarparkar celebrates the day annually.
The activists said the culprits involved in the Kastoori Kolhi rape case assumed that these people may instigate local people against them on the event.
Veerji was earlier threatened by Bachal Khoso’s men that his parents, who are still living in Nagarparkar, are not far from their reach if he could not keep quiet.
Fearing that their son’s life is in serious danger, his parents, alongwith the HRCP Sindh Taskforce coordinator, approached the Cantonment Police Station, believing that he was last seen in the jurisdiction of the same police station. The police plainly said they were already alert and no such incident occurred in their jurisdiction.
However, his brother Moolchand registered an FIR against the unknown people at the Cantonment Police Station.
