Lahore, February 1: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned Thursday’s abduction from Karachi of four volunteers working with an NGO and called upon the government to act swiftly to secure their release.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said: “HRCP strongly condemns the abduction from Maripur, Karachi, of four NGO workers and is extremely concerned about their safety, and indeed the safety of all human rights defenders who had always operated in difficult circumstances in Pakistan but who face even tougher challenges today across the country. The four volunteers, along with two women doctors, were part of a mobile dispensary offering medical services to fishermen at Maripur. The abductors had left the two women behind when they took the men away.

In calling for immediate and effective action, HRCP wants to remind the government of its obligation to create a safe environment for human rights defenders and demands that the abducted men are rescued and the abductors apprehended and prosecuted to demonstrate the government’s commitment to that very obligation. HRCP also calls upon the media to keep the spotlight on rising threats to human rights defenders as Pakistan heads towards the general elections that are feared to be among the more violent in its history.”

Zohra Yusuf
Chairperson