Sindh is bleeding, and it's not just from the usual political skirmishes. If you've been following the news out of Pakistan lately, you've likely seen the name Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) popping up with increasingly desperate pleas to the international community. This isn't just another fringe group making noise. We're talking about a systematic, documented pattern of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings that has turned the province into what activists are now calling a "torture cell."
Chairman Shafi Burfat didn't mince words in his latest statement. From his exile in Germany, he's basically calling Pakistan a "military-religious fascist state." That's a heavy label. But when you look at the list of names—men like Roheel Laghari, Saddam Shar, and Ejaz Gaho who simply vanished into the ether—you start to see why the rhetoric is so sharp. These aren't just statistics. They're people with families who are being picked up by "unknown" agencies, only to reappear weeks later as mutilated bodies or, worse, never reappear at all. For an alternative look, consider: this related article.
The Reality of Enforced Disappearances in 2026
The numbers are staggering. In the first half of 2022 alone, the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VMPS) recorded 78 kidnappings. Fast forward to May 2026, and the situation has only intensified. It's a grim lottery. One day you're a student at Sindh University or a local organizer; the next, you're in a secret detention center with no legal recourse.
Pakistan's intelligence agencies, specifically the ISI, are consistently at the center of these allegations. JSMM claims these agencies operate secret "black sites" where political workers are tortured without trial. It's a blunt instrument used to silence anyone who talks about Sindhi rights or questions how the province's resources are being managed. Further reporting regarding this has been published by Associated Press.
The state's response? Usually a mix of silence and flat denials. They label JSMM a "proscribed organization" and brush off the disappearances as "anti-state elements" being handled. But you can't just "handle" away the basic human right to a fair trial. When people are taken in front of dozens of onlookers and the police refuse to file a First Information Report (FIR), the rule of law hasn't just bent—it's snapped.
Solitary Confinement and the "Iron Shackle" Treatment
JSMM's recent reports from May 9, 2026, paint a terrifying picture of what's happening inside Sindh's jails. We aren't just talking about overcrowded cells. We're talking about:
- Solitary Confinement: Activists are kept in cramped, lightless cells for months.
- Physical Torture: Reports of prisoners being chained with iron shackles and handcuffs around the clock.
- Medical Neglect: Denying basic healthcare to sick prisoners isn't just poor management; it's a slow-motion execution.
- Psychological Warfare: Cutting off all family visits and communication to "break" the spirit of the detainees.
Shafi Burfat claims these prisons have been transformed into centers of "political revenge." It's hard to argue otherwise when you see the disparity in how different "criminals" are treated. While some high-profile militants seem to navigate the system with ease, secular Sindhi activists are met with the full, unchecked weight of the state's security apparatus.
The CPEC Connection
Why is this happening now? Follow the money. Much of the recent crackdown is tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Sindh and Balochistan are the primary sites for these massive infrastructure projects. When local communities resist—fearing they'll be displaced or their resources will be siphoned off to Islamabad and Beijing—the state hits back hard.
Take the case of Sadr Uddin Kolachi. He was the JSMM divisional head who disappeared for over a year. When he finally emerged, he'd lost his right eye and his ability to walk properly due to the severity of the torture he endured. His "crime"? Leading a resistance movement against CPEC projects that locals feel are colonizing their land.
Moving Beyond the "Internal Matter" Excuse
For years, the international community has treated these abuses as an "internal matter" for Pakistan. That excuse is getting thin. The United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have all received detailed dossiers on these abuses, yet the needles haven't moved much.
The Pakistani government often tries to pivot the conversation toward external threats, especially when speaking to the UN. In May 2026, while JSMM was flagging human rights abuses, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was busy condemning "Indian aggression." It's a classic distraction tactic. It’s much easier to talk about border skirmishes than it is to explain why five women and a child disappeared after a protest in Badin District.
What Needs to Change Immediately
If we're going to see any real progress, the "denial phase" has to end. It's not enough to just release a few prisoners when the pressure gets too high.
- Ratify the CED: Pakistan needs to finally ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. No more legal loopholes.
- Independent International Investigation: We can't trust the local police or military to investigate themselves. An independent UN commission needs access to Sindh's prisons and alleged "safe houses."
- End the Impunity: Senior officials in the Pakistan Rangers and various police departments need to be held personally liable for abductions. Right now, there's zero consequence for "disappearing" a citizen.
The families of the disappeared aren't going away. They're still protesting at bus stands, even when they're beaten for asking where their sons and husbands are. Honestly, the resilience of the Sindhi people in the face of this kind of state-sponsored terror is incredible, but it shouldn't be necessary.
If you want to support this cause, start by demanding transparency from the international bodies that provide aid to Pakistan. Human rights shouldn't be a footnote in trade deals or security pacts. Document the names. Share the stories. The only thing that thrives in the dark is the "black site" culture. It's time to turn the lights on.
