LAHORE, Jan 1: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for immediate disbandment of “vigilante squads maintained by the establishment for its favourite political party”.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the HRCP said on Monday night (Dec 31) a most deplorable incident took place in the Gulberg area. A few young girls, including Muneeza Jahangir, HRCP chairperson’s daughter and a TV producer/reporter, accompanied by a couple of young men, decided to take photographs of some election posters.

Suddenly a bunch of armed toughs (belonging to Moonis Elahi, who is contesting from the same area) pounced upon them, mercilessly beat up a young man, dragged the girls and detained them in the office of the son of the former chief minister. The armed goons hurled abuses at the girls and threatened them by pointing their guns at them and firing in the air to intimidate them.

They meted out the same treatment to Asma Jahangir when she arrived at the scene to rescue the girls. Later, according to Asma Jehangir, Moonis Elahi intervened in the matter and let the detainees go.

The HRCP statement said these men had no right or authority to resort to violence and imprison people in a private premises. “Worse, the culprits seemed to enjoy local authorities’ patronage and were reportedly backed by a couple of police constables in uniform.”

The HRCP called for immediate disbandment of all such private storm-troopers as their unlawful activities could pose a serious threat to citizens’ life and security and plunge society into a total chaos. “The interim rulers must probe the matter and call the guilty to account, that is, if they have the power to do so.” Dawn tried to contact Moonis Elahi on his cell, but he did not respond.