Islamabad:In a press conference held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) office, prominent leaders from various civil society organizations, including the Sindh Women Lawyers Alliance and the Women Action Forum, condemned the police violence against participants of the Sindh Tolerance March in Karachi.
Asad Iqbal Butt, speaking alongside former HRCP Chairperson Hina Jilani, stated that the peaceful gathering was a protest against the extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz. He highlighted that the march had been planned two weeks in advance, yet the government imposed Section 144 unexpectedly, which does not prohibit peaceful protests.
Butt called for an independent inquiry into the violence against the march participants, asserting that there was no justification for the police’s use of batons. He emphasized that society would not accept violence against its citizens.
Salima Hashmi and Hussain Naqi echoed Butt’s sentiments, urging the Sindh Chief Minister to investigate the actions of the perpetrators of violence and to identify those who seek to create discord.
The Sindh Tolerance March, aimed at protesting the alleged extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shah Nawaz under blasphemy charges, has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society. During a separate press conference at the Karachi Press Club, members of the Sindh Women Lawyers Alliance, HRCP’s Vice Chairperson Khizr Qazi, and other leaders demanded the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the killing and hold accountable those involved.
They argued that a mere apology from the Chief Minister of Sindh was insufficient in light of the police brutality faced by march participants, calling for legal action against the police officers involved and the immediate withdrawal of charges against the protesters.
Social leaders, including Jami Chandio and Fahmida Riaz, pointed out that the violence against writers, artists, journalists, and human rights advocates is a violation of freedom of expression. They reiterated their demand for the immediate arrest of the accused in Dr. Shah Nawaz’s murder case and a judicial inquiry into the matter.
It is noteworthy that the Sindh government suspended ten police officers, including SHO Zahir Ahmed, for their involvement in the violence against women activists and journalists outside the Karachi Press Club on October 13. Following the incidents, two cases were registered at Artillery Maidan police station, including charges of terrorism and public disorder, in response to the unrest in Karachi’s red zone.
