=> ISLAMABAD- The students, journalists, lawyers, hum
ISLAMABAD- The students, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and politicians have demanded the suspension of Additional Superintendent Police, Nasir Aftab, who ordered to baton charge peaceful protesters besides misbehaving with female students who were gathered to hold a rally here on Tuesday.
Highly charged students of different universities and colleges of the capital city, lawyers and activists of Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathered at Aabpara chowk.
While shouting slogans like “Haaton Main Lay Kr Haath Chalo, Aao Hamaary Sath Chalo, Hum Badlain Gay Haalaat Chalo, Aao Hamaary Sath Chalo” (Lets come with us and move hands in hands as we are the ones who will change the circumstances), the protestors started marching towards Melody Market.
High number of security officials, including Punjab Police and Islamabad Police, have been deployed on this occasion.
They stopped the protesters by using force and baton charged the students and journalists. Journalists from different media organisations named Jahangeer Chaudhry, Mubashir Tamuri, Irfan Malik and Raja Zaffar were severely beaten by the police.
Exchange of harsh words was also taken place between the police and journalists. Two female students of Quaid-e-Azam University, Aleen and Sana, were also seriously injured and maltreated by the police.
The students have demanded to suspend the Additional SP Nasir Aftab and made him responsible for the severe baton charge. City Magistrate Kamran Ali Cheema was also present with him on the spot.
Quite a large numbers of PTI activists also joined the students and reiterated to boycott the upcoming general elections. Human Rights Commission Secretary General Iqbal Haider, while addressing the gathering, said the enthusiasm of the students was commendable. “Students activism will change the fate of this country as we have seen before they have played an important in the past in the politics of the country”, said Iqbal.
The students said they salute the courage of students of Federal Urdu University and National University of Modern Language who raised their voices against sacking of the judiciary and the imposition of emergency after many decades.
Families of missing persons also joined the protest holding the pictures of their loved ones and carrying placards inscribed with slogans “ La Pata Afraad Ka Jurm Kia (What is the crime of missing persons?)”. They were demanding the early release of their dear ones who went missing years ago by the agencies.
The protest rally was held under the aegis of Students Action Committee, which represents different educational institutions in the country like Quaid-e-Azam University, International Islamic University Islamabad, Bahria University, West Minister’s College, LUMS and Froebls.
Despite the heavy use of force and threats of arrests, the students managed to reach in front of Press Club chanting slogans through which they were demanding the restoration of pre-November 3 judiciary alleviation of poverty and equal rights for the people.
Source: The Nation
Date:12/5/2007
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