KARACHI: A large number of activists, including researchers and writers, condemned the ‘illegal detention’ and registration of a ‘fake case’ against Karachi University (KU) teacher Dr Riaz Ahmed, who was arrested a day earlier and remanded in judicial custody for 14 day on Sunday.

Calling themselves Friends of Dr Riaz Ahmed, the protesters had gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC). They included rights activists Saleha Athar and Nighat Siddiqui, researchers Aly Arsalan and Hafeez Jamali, general secretary of the National Trade Union Federation Nasir Mansoor, students from the KU, representatives of the Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum and writer Wahid Baloch.

Despite it being a holiday, the crowd swelled quite quickly and most people arrived at the venue at the given time of 4:30pm.

On Saturday, Pakistan Rangers official detained Dr Riaz Ahmed and Dr Meher Afroze Murad. They were on their way to the KPC where they were to hold a press conference to demand the release of a former teacher of philosophy at the KU, Dr Hassan Zafar Arif, who later joined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London and was recently detained. Holding placards inscribed with slogans and cartoons, the activists demanded that both teachers be released soon.

An FIR (35/2017) under Section 23 (i) A of the Sindh Arms Act 2013 was registered at 6pm on Saturday against Dr Riaz Ahmed at the Artillery Maidan police station. According to the FIR, Dr Riaz Ahmed, son of Shamim Ahmed, was arrested by sub-inspector Shahid Pervez Khan of Pakistan Rangers, who was busy in snap-checking on Maulana Din Mohammad Wafai Road at 4pm on Saturday.

The officer stated that he “personally knew Dr Riaz for his efforts in creating momentum for the release of bloggers accused of committing blasphemy”. Dr Riaz was told to step out of the car, according to the FIR, and during the search “a 9mm pistol (Stoeger Cougar 8000F) was seized from a belt he had hidden under his shirt, besides his national identity card, ATM card and Rs29,000 stuffed in his trousers pocket.”

In his speech outside the press club, activist Sartaj Khan called the statement in the FIR as well as the entire case ‘fabricated and illegal’. Saleha Athar said: “The educated and the intelligentsia are facing a tough time by elements who don’t want dissent in any form.” According to people close to Dr Riaz, police presented him before a duty magistrate in the City Courts on Sunday to seek his physical remand on the charges of keeping a weapon. The court sent him to the Karachi Central Prison on judicial remand till April 15.

NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor said: “People wanting equality and freedom of speech for others are being detained and ridiculed for stepping up their efforts. This is creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.”

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is holding a meeting on Monday at 5pm at its office to decide steps for the release of Dr Riaz and Dr Meher Afroze Murad.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2017