Colombo, 24 May 2023 (TDI): In a joint statement, Amnesty International, Equidem, CIVICUS, and Forum Asia have called on the Pakistani authorities to end the crackdown on political opposition in the country.
According to Amnesty International, South Asia authorities in Pakistan are clamping down on the political opposition through mass arrests, arbitrary detention, and charging people under vague terrorism laws. The agency also called on the authorities to release those who are held for exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
The joint statement said that workers and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) are being re-arrested outside the courts after being released. Police raided the houses of PTI workers and supporters at night and arrested the peaceful protesters without a warrant.
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The joint statement also called for the release of a prominent missing journalist Imran Riaz Khan known for his support of the PTI. Imran Riaz Khan has been missing for 12 days.
The journalist was arrested by Punjab Police in Sialkot and is not brought before the court since then. The police admitted in the Lahore High Court that the journalist was released by the police on the day of arrest and, after that was taken away in a police van.
According to the joint statement, 4000 people have been arrested so far while the Information Minister of Punjab, Amir Mir, has indicated that 5000 people in total would be arrested for being directly involved in the 9 May clashes of which 800 would be tried by the Pakistan military courts and anti-terrorism courts, raising concerns about human rights in Pakistan.
The statement called on the authorities to provide fair trials and charge those responsible for attacking government and military installations in line with ordinary criminal laws of Pakistan and should not be tried in military courts.
Equidem tweeted that the Pakistani authorities are committing clear violations of International law and Pakistan’s constitution.
