KARACHI: The Sindh government on Thursday imposed a ban on sit-ins and public meetings at the Teen Talwar traffic intersection in a move to stop the protest campaign planned for a month by members of civil society against the murder of human rights activist Sabeen Mahmud.

In a brief statement issued by the Sindh home department, it was announced that the ban had been imposed under Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the criminal procedure code (CrPC).

Take a look: Teen Talwar: the new protest spot

“The Sindh government has imposed a ban under Section 144 of the CrPC on gatherings and sit-ins at the Teen Talwar Chowrangi Clifton, with immediate effect and till further orders,” it said without mentioning any reason for the immediate move.

However, police sources said that a summary had been sent by a law enforcement agency saying that the daily protest gathering by civil society members was causing traffic problems apart from posing a security risk on the key road link and it was necessary that the route was cleared.

Demonstrators protesting against Sabeen Mahmud’s murder move to Do Talwar

“These peace activists have been gathering here every day for more than a week after sunset,” said a source. “They stay peaceful and organise different activities like music and brief speeches to make their protest registered and seek arrest of Mahmud’s killers. But parking along the road and the presence of a moderate number of people at the public place causes serious traffic gridlock and security risk.”

Just before the Sindh government issued orders to ban the activity at Teen Talwar, the organisers through social media announced that they were shifting their camp to the Do Talwar traffic intersection, where they would hold regular activities.

However, they are expected to move the venue after the ban.

“Today [Thursday] we managed to gather people at Do Talwar as we believe that the government imposed the ban only to discourage this protest,” said one of the active participants. “There is a discussion going on which may lead to the decision to shift the protest camp outside the Karachi Press Club. One needs to understand that it’s just a peaceful protest to demand justice and not for any confrontation with any individual or organisation.”

When asked about the rationale behind the sudden restriction, DIG-South Dr Jamil Ahmed said it was a pre-emptive move anticipating an activity that could affect law and order. He did not elaborate what that “activity” would be.

“It’s not aimed at banning or discouraging civil society protest [against Sabeen Mahmud’s murder],” he told Dawn. “Such a ban is imposed when there is a possibility of an activity that could affect routine life and business and create a law and order situation. As far as the civil society protest is concerned, they are peaceful and not creating any situation that affects law and order.”

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2015

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