Emergency: Day 3
Karachi:As the Lawyers, journalists, members of civil society, and political activists in the city bore the brunt of action by law-enforcement agencies, the metropolis remained in the grip of crippling uncertainty and turmoil as the first working day after proclamation of emergency came to a close.
At least 150 lawyers, media persons, political parties, and NGOs’ activists were detained by the police as they tried to assemble at various points of city to demonstrate against the imposition of emergency and express solidarity with judges who declined to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).
The premises of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and City Courts saw a spate of arrests by the police. The heavy presence and preparations of law-enforcement agencies made no secret of their intent against the protestors.
At the SHC alone, the police arrested at least 57 members of the legal fraternity and dozens of their colleagues were detained outside the apex court premises as they came to the SHC building to attend a general body meeting of their representative association. At least 32 lawyers, including three women, were arrested outside the City Courts when they assembled there to attend a protest general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association. However, the police only confirmed arrests of 21 lawyers on the premises of City Courts.
At least six newsmen, mostly photojournalists, were arrested mainly outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and other places of unrest in the city. Yousuf Masti Khan of National Workers’ Party and Mir Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party were also arrested outside the KPC premises.
The KPC, SHC and City Courts buildings witnessed harsh police action including a baton-charge on the protesting lawyers while scuffles also broke out among the protestors and law-enforcement personnel at other places.
The police also raided the premises of the centralised printing press of the Jang Group of Newspapers to stop publication of an evening supplement by the media group regarding overall political and security situation of the country.
According to some reports, leaders and activists of the opposition and nationalist political parties in the city continued to play hide-and-seek with the police to avoid detention under the emergency powers given to the authorities.
There had been reports of raids on political party offices and private residences to detain activists of the opposition since late Sunday evening to pre-empt their protest plans for the next day (Monday).
A grim state of uncertainty prevailed over educational institutions, important markets, commercial places, and office establishments with a much thinner attendance of students, teachers, employees, and workers. Academic activities at a number of schools and colleges remained virtually suspended due to the no-show of students and teachers.
The Karachi Stock Exchange experienced a historic and unparalleled setback as it dipped by a phenomenal 635 points.
In the absence or virtual black-out of the Pakistan-based private TV news channels, rumours regarding another coup d’etat and change of guard in Islamabad did the rounds, as a result of which people had no option but to contact journalists to determine the validity the rumours.
There was no official word available on the fate of the detained lawyers and members of civil society lodged at various police stations, regarding whether they were being freed or if cases were registered against them.
Capital City Police Officer Azhar Ali Farooqui, when contacted said: “Whether or not there are arrests in the city at the moment I will not share information about statistics of detentions in the city with you”. “You better tell me if there are detentions made by the police outside the premises of Sindh High Court, City Courts, or Press Club,” he added.
Source: The News
Date:11/6/2007
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