Islamabad, Oct 31 (NationPress) Prominent human rights organizations both in Pakistan and internationally have condemned the suspected forced disappearance of the Sindh National Students Federation's (SNSF) chief organizer, Ghani Aman Chandio, who was allegedly taken from a Karachi hospital earlier this week.

Witnesses reported that the event transpired at Memona Hospital in Karachi on October 28, while Chandio was present for his infant daughter's treatment. According to accounts, a group of armed individuals in civilian clothing, reportedly accompanied by Pakistani paramilitary forces, entered the hospital, confiscated mobile phones, erased CCTV footage, and blindfolded Chandio before abducting him in front of his family, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

In a press release, Amnesty International South Asia characterized the kidnapping of Chandio as a "clear violation of his rights to freedom, dignity, and fair legal process," calling on Pakistani officials to disclose his location and guarantee his safe return.

"PAKISTAN: The kidnapping of student activist Ghani Aman Chandio on October 28 from Memona Hospital in Karachi, allegedly by state forces, is profoundly alarming. The kidnapping of a father visiting his sick child is not only heartless but also a direct assault on his rights to freedom, dignity, and due process," stated Amnesty International South Asia on X.

Per eyewitness accounts, men in civilian attire, accompanied by uniformed law enforcement officers, abducted Chandio, threatening bystanders in the hospital and seizing the mobile devices of all family members present.

"Ghani had previously been implicated in a criminal case for allegedly making 'anti-state' remarks during a protest and had just spoken at a local university on student politics the day prior to his abduction. We are deeply concerned for Ghani’s safety. The Pakistani authorities must urgently reveal Ghani’s situation and location and ensure his safe return. Furthermore, a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into his abduction must take place, bringing to justice all those involved," the Amnesty statement continued.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also called for the immediate recovery of Ghani Aman Chandio, who was forcibly taken, allegedly by state agents. It stated that the forced disappearance of Chandio and numerous others highlights the state’s ongoing strategy of suppressing fundamental rights and stifling political dissent.

"HRCP demands the swift recovery of political activist Ghani Aman Chandio, who was forcibly taken by state agents while he was at a hospital in Karachi caring for his young daughter. The manner of this action is extremely troubling. Mr. Chandio and others who have been arbitrarily detained or abducted demonstrate the state's persistent policy of suppressing fundamental freedoms and political dissent. HRCP emphasizes that such draconian actions only intensify political instability and societal fragmentation," the HRCP shared on X.

In a statement, the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) asserted that “state institutions, anxious and unsettled by the rising resistance movements nationwide, continue to target peaceful political activists with unconstitutional and brutal methods.” The group described Chandio’s disappearance as a "setback to the democratic political process" and demanded his release, according to The Balochistan Post.

Meanwhile, the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VMPS) Europe Chapter also criticized the abduction of Ghani Aman Chandio, labeling it as "a clear breach of human rights and an effort to silence peaceful dissent in Sindh."

VMPS coordinator Sarang Sindhi stated that Chandio is a non-violent political activist who has long championed democracy and human rights. He mentioned that Chandio was taken by individuals supported by paramilitary forces from the hospital where his twin children were being treated.

He noted that the assailants intimidated patients and their families before abducting him, adding that Chandio's relatives were assaulted, and their phones were confiscated.

Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch also condemned the abduction of Chandio from the Karachi hospital.

"Two days ago, they forcibly removed Ghani Aman Chandio from a hospital in Karachi, while his daughter lay ill in the adjacent room. The individuals who claim to protect this country abducted a father from the bedside of his child. Now that same girl is on the streets of Sindh with her mother, grandmother, and aunt, pleading for a father she may never see again. This is the state’s notion of governance: kidnapping fathers, shattering families, and then preaching about peace and stability. Each time a man is taken, a family becomes a protest. Each time one voice is silenced, a thousand more emerge from the ashes. The daughters of Balochistan are all too familiar with this story, and we will not cease sharing it," Sammi Deen Baloch remarked.