Sherry, Bakhtawar condemn brutal action against Rawadari March participants

The use of police force to disperse protesters during Sunday’s gathering outside the Karachi Press Club has been condemned by several Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) politicians, including senior leader Senator Sherry Rehman, who apologised for the violence on behalf of the party.

"We are a democratic party and rights of citizens have to be protected and respected even if they were in violation of todays [Section] 144. I have spoken on the phone from Islamabad to many who were mistreated, and apologised, and appreciate their understanding," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, the younger sister of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has also condemned the brutal and arbitrary police action against the participants of the Rawadari March from the civil society organisations in the vicinity of the press club.

“We all condemn and we are all disgusted and ashamed of the violent treatment against peaceful protestors. The home minister has ensured a probe (into the police action) and action will be taken against all those involved in such unprovoked, inexcusable, and unjustifiable brutality.”

HRCP’s demands

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded that the Sindh Rawadari March be allowed to continue assembly at the Karachi Press Club.

In a tweet on X, the HRCP said that it is greatly concerned to learn that at least 37 protesters (including women) associated with the Sindh Rawadari March have been arrested by the Karachi police while attempting to hold a peaceful assembly to demand justice for the murder of Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar.

It said police have also attempted to arrest HRCP chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt and warned him not to speak to the press. “We fear further arrests through the day,” they said. The HRCP said the Sindh Rawadari March includes progressive voices from across the province of Sindh, including human rights defenders, trade unions and feminist movements, whose right to protest is protected by the constitution.

Those arrested must be releasedunconditionally, and the Sindh Rawadari March must be allowed to continue its assembly at the Karachi Press Club unhindered.

SHRC takes cognisance

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken a suo motu notice of the brutal and arbitrary police action against the participants of a peaceful rally held by civil society organisations near Karachi Press Club on Sunday.

The SHRC under the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act-2011 is authorised to take cognisance of the instances of human rights violations in the province. “A peaceful assembly of civil society protestors outside the Karachi Press Club on 13th October, 2024 was met with violent assaults and arrests by the police. The protestors were reportedly gathered to demand justice for the extra-judicial killing of Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhar,” said the suo motu notice sent by the SHRC to the DIG South.

The notice said that the reported incident raised concerns about potential violations of the fundamental right of peaceful assembly guaranteed under articles 15, 16 and 19 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

“In view of Section 4(i)(ii) Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2011, the Commission directs you to file detailed comments mentioning the circumstances leading to the use of force against the peaceful protestors, the legal basis for the arrests made during the protest and measures taken to ensure the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly. The detailed comments may be filed within three days of the receipt of this notice,” said the notice sent by SHRC Member Judicial-I Arshad Noor Khan.

The copies of the notice were also sent to the additional chief secretary of the Sindh Home Department, the IGP, and the secretary of the Sindh government’s Human Rights Department.

Qureshi demands action

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former MPA Shahzad Qureshi has expressed regret over the baton charge, tear gassing and the death of a worker during a protest of a religious party near the Karachi Press Club on Sunday and demanded legal action against those involved in itHe said on Monday the brutal violence by rulers on protesting men and women cannot be tolerated in any way. The women of organizations working for the protection of human rights were also subjected to extreme violence, which is unacceptable for all of us.

Qureshi further said that as a democratic party we should respect the rights of our citizens. The administration immediately apologized for the mistreatment of journalists and women, he said, adding that protest is a fundamental right and no one can stop it.