‘It is a preplanned conspiracy to disdain the political and civil society workers who are wagging a peaceful fight for the rights of masses’ – Civil Society Leaders
Karachi: The representatives of civil society and trade unions pledged on Wednesday to continue their struggle against forced occupations of Goths and lands and demanded to release all political workers arrested after a recent protest against Bahria Town.
The demands were made in a joint meeting of the representatives of civil society and trade unions held in the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan to discuss in detail the situation regarding Bahria Town issue.
The meeting participants agreed upon that the protest of June 6 against occupation of villages by the Bahria Town was a peaceful sit-in participated by people belonging to all language and cultural backgrounds. They came to show solidarity with the affected local population and made the sit-in a success.
The sit-in was organized by the local communities of Malir against forced occupation of their lands and villages and constructions on them for commercial purpose.
This was a peaceful assembly of people, but just before its end, sudden incidents of arson and violence were seen. The organizers of the protest announced that they did belong or support to these illegal activities. They also appealed to the law enforcement officials present there to stop and arrest arsonists. However, the police and private security of the Bahria Town remained silent spectators.
The meeting expressed a deep concern that later the police arrested hundreds of peaceful political workers and implicated them in anti-terrorism cases. The meeting condemned this act and demanded to release the arrested political workers immediately and withdraw anti-terrorism cases against them.
The meeting also showed a grave concern over attack on the house of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz chairman Sanaan Qureshi and his illegal arrest. It also condemned filing anti-terrorism cases against Indigenous Rights Alliance leaders Gul Hassan Kalmati, Khaliq Junejo, Murad Gabol, Jahanzeb Kalmati, Jalal Shah, Zain Shah, Qadir Magsi and others.
The meeting participants strongly condemned a conspiracy of some anti-people, anti-Sindh reactionary elements to fan ethnic, linguistic and sectarian hatreds in the garb of Bahria Town incident to push Sindh to a bloodbath. It said this is a very dangerous trend and it would be resisted at all costs.
The meeting was of the opinion that this is a preplanned conspiracy to disdain the political and civil society workers who are wagging a peaceful fight for the rights of masses. It would further suffocate our society and create anarchy and chaos. The meeting expressed complete support and solidarity to those who are struggling for safeguard of their resources, lands and Goths and pledged to raise voice against the land grabbing mafia.
Those who participated in the meeting included Asad Iqbal Butt (HRCP), Karamat Ali (PILER), Nasir Mansoor (National Trade Union Federation), Mehnaz Rehman (Aurat Foundation), Sheema Kirmani (Tehreek e Niswan), Prof Tuaseef Ahmed, Dr Riaz Shiekh (progressive intellectual), Anis Haroon (Women Action Fourm), Gul Hassan Kalmati of Indigenous Rights Alliance, Comrade Wahid Baloch of Lyari Awami Mahaz, Qazi Khizar of HRCP, Dr Asghar Dashti progressive intellectual, Saeed Baloch Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and HRCP, Anita Panjani of WAF, Zahra Khan of Home-based Women Workers Federation, Sheerin Ejaz of human rights defender, Uzma Noorani and Nasreen of WAF/HRCP, Abdul Hai of HRCP, Farhat Pervern of National Organization for Working Women, Sassi Solangi social activist, Kaleem Durrani of HRCP, Sarman Birohi of Jeay Sindh Students Federation, Makhdoom Ayub Qureshi senior trade union leader, Hanif Murad Dal social leaders, Sajjad Zaheer of Anjuman Taraqi Pasand Musanfin and Mir Zulfiqar of VIRO (PR)
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