Law
news
Asma
Jahangir beaten as police foil marathon bid
The
police severely beat up and arrested scores of rights
activists, including women, who tried to hold a mini-marathon.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the
Joint Action Committee for People's Rights (JACPR) had
announced to organise the marathon from the Qadhafi Stadium
to the Kalima Chowk to highlight violence against women,
and for promoting 'enlightened moderation' in society.
As
the HRCP chairperson Asma Jahangir and members of other
rights organisations converged outside the AGHS Legal
Aid Cell on the Main Boulevard in Gulberg to head for
the Qadhafi Stadium, the police barred them from proceeding
and, on resistance, resorted to baton charge. Women participants,
along with their male companions, were manhandled, beaten
up, dragged and bundled into police trucks to be driven
to the Model Town investigation centre.
Around
40 people were taken into custody, including Asma Jahangir,
Iqbal Haider, former minister and the HRCP secretary-general,
Hina Jilanni, Farooq Tariq, Muhammad Tehseen, Joseph Francis,
and Azra Shad. The arrested people were set free hours
after they were taken into custody. However, they staged
a sit-in outside the Race Course Police Station for the
release of two other arrested activists - Jan Nisar Baloch
and Shazia - who were not released by the police. Those
assembled at the stadium to take part in the marathon
were scared away by the police, who threatened the intending
participants with arrest if they did not disperse and
continued to violate Section 144 enforced in the city.
The
HRCP has sharply reacted to the police action, saying
that by using brute force to prevent a peaceful attempt
to draw attention to violence against women, authorities
have demonstrated their anti-women bias and contempt for
basic liberties.
"The
brutality of the police in preventing what was intended
to be a peaceful event has unmasked the true face of the
state. Sadly, such thuggish behaviour has increasingly
become the norm in the city, as a means to prevent basic
rights, including those of assembly," said a news
release issued later.
Source:
Dawn, Pakistan.
