KARACHI, Feb 23: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General, Iqbal Haider, on Friday condemned the armed attack on a human rights activist in Orangi Town.

The HRCP leader said two armed men shot at HRCP activist Gul Mohammad Baloch on Thursday night in Union Council No 2 of Orangi Town in the jurisdiction of Mominabad police station, snatched his motorcycle (KBB-1298) and ran away.

Mr Baloch received two bullets and was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he was in a critical condition, said Mr Haider, adding that the police though registered an FIR, they had not yet arrested the perpetrators.

He said the initial investigations, conducted by the HRCP fact-finding team, gave strength to the suspicion that perhaps Gul Mohammad Baloch was targeted, as he had been exposing crimes and inhuman practices rampant in the union council.

He expressed concern over the rising incidents of attacks and violence against not only the human right activists, working journalists but also on the leaders and workers of political parties.

“It appears that such attacks are being unleashed to gag and intimidate the voices of dissent and freedom of expression, which are in blatant violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, basic human rights and all norms of decency and good governance,” he said.

Iqbal Haider asked the governor and police chief to ensure that culprits involved in such criminal acts were arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law and the government must ensure protection of life and properties of all citizens.