Arrest of Dr Ayesha Faiz Is Height of Intolerance and Authoritarianism: National Party
QUETTA: The National Party has strongly condemned the arrest of retired police surgeon Dr Ayesha Faiz, calling it the “height of intolerance and authoritarianism” and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the case and her release.
In a statement, the National Party’s provincial spokesperson said Dr Ayesha Faiz, daughter of veteran Balochistan politician and former Kalat State National Party leader the late Malik Faiz Muhammad Yousafzai, was arrested after a case was registered against her under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act allegedly in connection with a press conference.
The spokesperson strongly criticised the registration of the case and her arrest, saying such actions demonstrated that slogans about assemblies and democratic government were merely for show and that, in practice, the country was witnessing an authoritarian system.
The National Party alleged that assemblies were even passing condemnation resolutions against their own members to appease powerful quarters.
The party said the restrictions on freedom of expression could be gauged from the fact that a woman doctor in her 60s, belonging to a prominent political family of Balochistan, was allegedly arrested after police raided her residence at night over a press conference.
Describing the arrest as highly condemnable, the National Party urged the authorities to change what it termed an authoritarian mindset, particularly in view of the sensitive situation in Balochistan.
The party demanded that the case against Dr Ayesha Faiz be withdrawn immediately and that she be released without delay.
