New Delhi: Even as Pakistan struggles to get a government in place and the political instability continues, the killing of Sindhi human rights activist Hidayatullah Lohar has sparked protests in the country. And Pakistanis are saying #StateKilledHidayatLohar.
Relatives and supporters of Lohar blocked the Indus Highway on Monday to protest the police’s inability to capture the perpetrators. Workers from Sindh United Party, Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Awami Workers Party, Primary Teachers Association, and Lohar’s family members demanded that an FIR be filed in connection with the targeted murder.
Lohar was on his way to teach at his school when he was gunned down by unidentified men in Nasirabad on Sunday.
A prominent supporter of Sindhi nationalism, the activist had previously been a victim of enforced disappearance, allegedly by the Pakistan army from 2017 to 2019.
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) is convinced of the political aspect of the murder, and it is not alone. Some sources have publicly blamed Pakistan’s armed forces.
“The state and agencies of Pakistan have assassinated my father. Pakistan is bringing violence in our country, Sindh,” Lohar’s daughter Sassui alleged.
Various human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, have condemned the killing.
“@amnesty calls on the authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and prompt investigation into the killing of Sindhi political activist and teacher Hidayatullah Lohar, and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable without recourse to the death penalty. This incident highlights the grave risks that the activists and human rights defenders face in their lives,” Amnesty International posted on X.
In 2019, Amnesty documented Lohar’s enforced disappearance and his daughters’ fight for justice.
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Lohar’s battle for rights
Lohar’s murder adds to a history of persecution due to his activism. Between 17 April 2017, and 28 May 2019, he was abducted because he advocated for the basic rights of the people in Sindh, a province often spotlighted for abuses against religious and ethnic minorities. Following his release Lohar asserted that he underwent severe torture, a claim substantiated by medical reports and visible signs on his body.
During his abduction years, his daughters Sorath and Sassui took on the mantle of his commitment, assuming leadership of the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VMPS), an NGO founded by Lohar, which is dedicated to advocating for those who mysteriously disappear in Sindh. Despite facing numerous threats and obstacles, VMPS has become one of the most active and vocal organisations in the region.
The issue of disappearances in Sindh province is both statistically significant and frequent. Lohar experienced a second abduction in 2023, only securing release under intense pressure from civil society. His daughter, Sassui, pointed fingers at the authorities, with activists often accusing Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department of being responsible for abductions, especially those linked to “separatist” activities.
Calls for action
US politician Brad Sherman too called on authorities to launch an investigation on the Lohar’s killing.
“Given the long history of the murder of #Sindh’s human rights activists, Islamabad must launch a comprehensive investigation into his death,” he posted on X.
The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) also released a press statement condemning the ‘brutal assassination’, highlighting that Lohar was an unarmed peaceful activist and a schoolteacher with no criminal or terrorist record. SANA President Maqbool Halepota and other key figures expressed condolences to the family and demanded justice for the slain activist.
Furthermore, the President of the Baloch American Congress, Tara Chand, took to social media, tagging various national and international human rights organisations, and emphasising the need to hold the secret agencies of the Pakistan Army accountable for crimes against human rights defenders.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement expressing shock over Lohar’s murder and demanding a prompt and transparent investigation. HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt announced a protest outside the Karachi Press Club in solidarity with Lohar’s family.
The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM), a Sindhi nationalist organisation, condemned the murder and announced a 10-day mourning period in honour of Lohar’s memory. The incident has reignited a call for unity among Sindhi and Baloch activists against what they perceive as systemic oppression by the Pakistani establishment.