17 April 2005	Sunday	07 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 16: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson Asma Jehangir has said the brutal treatment meted out to thousands of political activists on return of the PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari to the country had proved that the government had no respect for democracy or human rights.

Demanding immediate release of the detained workers and compensation for those maltreated by police, besides freedom of expression and movement for all political activists in a statement issued here on Saturday, the HRCP chairperson said that a fact-finding team visiting the airport, Bilawal House and police stations across the city had been dismayed over the ruthless treatment meted out to the party workers.

Hundreds were dragged away from the airport and Bilawal House at dawn as they attempted to meet Zardadri. Many, including women, were manhandled by policemen with scant respect for their dignity and beaten up when they tried to raise slogans against the maltreatment of the old and young alike, she added.

She said three women were severely injured and hospitalized, while the HRCP team witnessed the arrest of three young children who were later released on resistance.

She said a team led by herself was denied permission to enter the Sarwar Road Police Station and monitor the situation despite repeated requests made to the police officials present there. The HRCP team reached the police station on receipt of reports that two women being held there had been subjected to violence amounting to torture. One was dragged by the hair and her complaints of suffering serious illness were disregarded. Other women were reportedly held in isolation to harass and intimidate her, Ms Jehangir said.

She said that the HRCP had further learnt that the party workers from other cities and towns trying to enter the city throughout the day continued to be rounded up and placed under detention. According to HRCP estimates thousands of PPP activists and leaders were arrested and had not been released till the evening. A few were taken to prisons and some, including women and parliamentarians, were driven off to unknown destinations. A large number of men and women belonging to other provinces were also harassed, abused and detained in Data Daebar area.

She said the rough treatment meted out to journalists at the Lahore Airport provided further evidence of the state disregard for fundamental freedoms despite the numerous claims to the contrary. In a deliberate attempt to prevent the information from reaching the citizens, the cameras and mobile phones of media persons travelling with Mr Zardari were snatched and films from cameras removed and exposed, she added.

Journalists were detained at the airport for several hours and their equipment confiscated, while those who tried to cover events in the city were virtually placed under siege and harassed by the police on several occasions throughout the day.

She said that the extent to which the ordinary people suffered restrictions on movement and routine activity in many parts of the city, including the areas around the airport, Bilawal House and several other cordoned off locations, was also disturbing. She said that the government action belied the claim that the purpose of the action was to ensure that the people did not suffer any difficulties.

The HRCP did not see any signs of provocation by the PPP supporters, she said, adding that the refusal of the Punjab government to even acknowledge that arrests had been made or people subjected to police brutality had only further reduced its credibility. It proved beyond all doubt that the government had no respect for democracy or the basic principles of humanity under which the people’s rights were protected by any civilized state.

She said that with the exception of allowing the rallies of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the government had shown zero tolerance for any movement for the rights of the people.