MANSEHRA, Nov 4: Human rights activists, lawyers and civil society representatives on Sunday condemned the imposition of emergency in the country and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Speaking at a workshop here on “Political Education” organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a participant said: “Emergency is against national interests and it should be lifted immediately.”

People from Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Battagram districts participated in the event.

Prof Iqbal Tajik and Prof Ijaz Khan presented papers on political education and highlighted the role of democracy.

“Just like the economy, democracy too is considered the backbone of a country since it gives people the right to live and let live,” they said.

Chairman of public safety and police commission Saif Ali Shah, HRCP district coordinator (Mansehra) Raza Tanoli and Shujaat Ali Khan said the emergency rule was not only against human rights but also against the law and Constitution of the country.

They called upon the government to step down immediately and constitute a neutral caretaker set up for conducting free and fair elections.