KARACHI: Families of two missing persons, along with civil society organisations, have staged a protest sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly building on Sunday, demanding recovery of their loved ones.

Two students of Karachi University, Doda Illahi and Ghamshad Baloch, went missing a couple of days ago and their families set up a protest camp outside the Karachi Press Club since last two days.

On Sunday evening, they took out a rally from KPC to the Sindh Assembly building.

The protesters, including women and children, removed barricades placed by the police at Fawara Chowk and managed to reach in front of the assembly building to stage a sit-in outside the main gate.

SSP-South Asad Raza told Dawn that around 60-70 protesters led by Aamna Baloch, Sammy Din Mohammed Baloch, Abdul Wahab Baloch, Varsa Pirzada and others started a march from the KPC.

He said the police did not take any action as mostly the protesters were women and children. He said the authorities held talks to persuade them to end their sit-in outside the assembly gate as the budget session was expected to take place on Monday (today).

He said the protesters alleged that the missing students had allegedly been taken away by the Counter Terrorism Department of the police.

Speaking to the protesters, the relatives and activists said that if the missing students were involved in any illegal activity, they should have been arrested instead they were whisked away forcibly at night from their homes in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

They said if the missing persons were involved in any criminal activity they should be presented in court.

They demanded immediate release of the two KU students and other missing persons.

Ms Aamna announced that their sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly gate would continue till the release of the missing KU students and others.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2022