| PRESS RELEASE A peaceful candlelight vigil at Hasan Square urging restraint between India and Pakistan was forcibly dispersed by Gulshan-e-Iqbal policeled by ASP Asif Ejaz and two demonstrators Aslam Martin and Javed Iqbal Burki were arrested. Police offices pushed away women and children and snatched peace placards from peaceful citizens who waited for the vigil to behin. Written information for the vigil had been given by the HRCP to the DIG, Karachi who had given verbal permission on the condition that there won't be any procession. But over 100 police officers charged the waiting crowd before the vigil began. Male and female police officers armed with rifles and lathis charged 100 participants and broke up the vigil before several 100 more could arrive. "we are shocked at the policy of our government" said the organizers. "on the one hand they are allowing religious groups to call for jihad but when we assmeble peacefully, we are violently attacked." One of the protestors, Dr Riaz Ahmed from Karachi University, was hauled away by the police but he managed to get away when demonstrators resisted his arrest. The vigila was organized under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee, HRCP, WAF, Shirkat-Gah, Aurat Foundation, Pakistan Labour Party, International Socialist Group, CPP, Pakistanis4peace.org, and an overwhelmeing number of citizens. |