Police baton charged, injured and arrested six people amongst over 150
gathered at the Karachi Press Club to demonstrate against the imposition of
Emergency by General Musharraf. Those arrested included Farid Awan (Convenor
Peoples Movement for Justice and Pakistan Trade Union Federation), Liaquat
Sahi (President State Bank Workers Union, CBA) and three photographers,
later Yousuf Masti Khan (National Workers Party), Hasil Bizenjo (National
Party) and Ayub Qureshi (National Party) were arrested as they came out of
the Karachi Press Club. Over 400 policemen and huge number of
plainclothesmen encirled the club and arrested protesters coming out and
harrassed and tried to stop entry of peaceful protesters into the Press
Club. After the police attack the demonstrators gatehred inside the club,
condemned the police brutality and a debate ensued about the strategy
forward. The demo was called by Peoples Movement for Justice an alliance of
left, ngos, trade unionists, nationalist parties and individuals against
military rule. A number of people (mainly women) were in support of a demo
outside the club for the second time while others argued that todays arrests
were sufficient proof of a Karachi anger against the military rulers
imposition of emergency. After considerable debate it was decided that a
meeting be held on Tuesday as follows
Meeting
Against Military Rule, PCO, Curbs on Freedom
3pm, Tuesday November 06, 2007,
Aurat Foundation, Bath Island
contact 0333-2298922 for details
Called by Peoples’ Movement for Justice and anti-emergency activists
Supported by International Socialists ( Karachi)
The good thing about Karachi Press Club PMJ protest was the shear
determination of the protesters not to leave field and a very strong desire
to escalate the protest movement. Protests were also held in Karachi at
Karachi City and Sindh High Courts. Lawyers took out procession within and
outside the courts and boycotted proceedings. Police attacked lawyers and
arrested over 110 people. Throughout Pakistan over 2000 lawyers and rights
activists have been arrested by police and paramilitary Rangers. Lawyers
have called for continual boycott of courts till decision of Emergency is
withdrawn.
Issued by
Riaz Ahmed
for International Socialists Karachi
http://www.geocities.com/internationalsocialistpakistan
ps: 6 of karachi nov 5 arrested sent on Physical Remand for 2 days....send
letters of condemnation to human rights organisatino
70 of Lahore nov 03 arrested granted bail but yet to be released