Press release

Freedom of peaceful assembly being trampled

Lahore, 14 October 2024. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the Sindh government to immediately investigate the violent treatment meted out to civil society activists who took part in yesterday’s Sindh Rawadari March in Karachi. Scores of protestors were arrested—including HRCP Sindh vice-chair Qazi Khizer Habib—and numerous others, including women, physically assaulted by the Karachi police.

Although those arrested were released soon after, HRCP believes that the imposition of S. 144 in Karachi was unnecessary in the first instance. The Sindh Rawadari March was intended as a peaceful demonstration calling for justice for Dr Shahnawaz Kunbher, who was accused of blasphemy and subsequently shot dead by a police officer. The march had brought together progressive voices from across Sindh and should have received the full support of any government claiming to hold progressive, democratic credentials. Instead, an FIR has now been lodged against several protestors, including those who were subjected to violence by the police. This must be withdrawn immediately.

Second, while a counter-protest by the far-right TLP may have rightly stoked fears of a clash, given the TLP’s violent history and its extremist position on blasphemy, this was not a license to assault Sindh Rawadari March protestors. Instead, the Karachi police should have been prepared to protect peaceful marchers had the TLP resorted to violence against the latter.

Although the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Constitution, it has been consistently violated by the state in the last several years. S. 144 continues to be applied arbitrarily, especially against peaceful rights-based assemblies. The federal and provincial governments must understand that they are the custodians of this right and as such, legally obligated to protect and promote freedom of peaceful assembly.

Asad Iqbal Butt
Chairperson