KARACHI: Dr Safdar Sarki, Secretary General of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), a separatist Sindhi nationalist organisation, and a motel owner in Texas, US, has been finally released.

Zhob’s district and sessions judge Rashid Mahmood released him in two cases of carrying Kalashnikov and hand grenades, while Magistrate Zhob Zia-ul-Rehman released him in the case of using a vehicle with a duplicate number plate.

His release is the result of personal effort of the chief minister of Balochistan, who had announced to withdraw cases against Sarki at his oath-taking ceremony.

Sarki disappeared from his sister’s apartment in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on 24th February 2006. His whereabouts remained unknown till his presence at the Sakran CIA Centre in Balochistan on October 11, 2007.

Earlier, Sarki was granted bail on November 2 but it was repealed with the Emergency on November 3 in the country. On February 8, his final release orders were issued, but state interference remained the barrier.

Sarki, who is admitted to Quetta’s Sandeman hospital for treatment, will soon get his eye operation and hernia treatment in private hospitals, his lawyer Muhammad Khan Shaikh told The News.

His one eye has lost much sight in alleged torture and he got basic eye treatment at the Helper Eye Hospital, Quetta.

Sarki is amongst hundreds of people who went missing when a secret state operation started against Sindhi and Baloch nationalists.

The disappeared persons started showing up after deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice of the issue.

The operation against the nationalists in Sindh started from the workers of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) that was later extended to the

JSQM and the number of missing workers went above 40.

Though almost all of them are back now, several lost health and one life.

Inhuman torture marked body parts of these political prisoners. Asghar Shah’s body shows marks of drill machine, Akash Mallah has lost hearing, and, according to a source, no hospital is ready to treat Bashir Shah, another victim of state atrocities.

Samiullah Kalhoro, Vice Chairman JSMM, lost his life due to torture.

Meanwhile, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, a Baloch nationalist and former chief minister, still faces several cases here.

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