HYDERABAD, May 15: Police violence against Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Asma Jehangir, secretary-general Iqbal Haider, Hina Jilani and other activists in Lahore on Saturday has been condemned by leaders of public opinion and various groups.

Activists of the Awami Tehrik held a protest demonstration outside the press club against the police action.

Speaking on the occasion, AT general secretary Abdul Qadir Ranto, Sindhiani Tehrik president Nazeer Qureshi and general secretary Zahida Shaikh, and Sindhi Shagird Tehrik president Javed Rajpar said Pakistan had been converted into a police state.

They wondered why the US was not taking notice of human rights violation being committed by police in Pakistan.

They blamed police for committing inhuman atrocities against peaceful people.

In a joint statement, Sindh National Party leaders Ameer Bhambhro, Ashraf Noonari and Dilshad Bhutto called the police action against human rights activists state terrorism which, they said, should be condemned by all right thinking people in the country.

They recalled that only a few days ago police had unleashed violence against peaceful journalists.

They said violence against rights activists by police had exposed the so-called enlightened moderation of the rulers.

Bhandar Hari Sangat leaders Shahina Ramzan, Ashiq Ali and Mohammad Ramzan also criticized police for violence against the human rights activists in Lahore.

They demanded action against police officers who had baton-charged the activists.

Our Mirpurkhas Correspondent adds: A procession was taken out by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan here on Sunday in protest against police brutality on HRCP chairperson Asma Jehangir and secretary-general Iqbal Haider in Lahore.

Carrying banners and placards, dozens of workers and office-bearers of different NGOs marched on the main roads and reached the press club.

Speaking on the occasion, Kanji Rano, Bhagwandas advocate, Sawan Kumar, Babu Meero and Ibrahim Palli condemned the police action against Asma Jehangir and Iqbal Haider.

They demanded that the government should register cases against police officials responsible for the brutality.

They called upon the chief justice of the Supreme Court to take suo motu action in the matter.

They demanded that the Sindh government should withdraw a show-cause notice issued to the chairperson of the District Public Safety and Police Complaint Commission, Abdul Rehman Jan Sarhandi.

They called for suspension of DPO Altaf Bhatti who, they alleged, was responsible for creating law and order problem in the district.