KARACHI: The Sindh Human Rights Commission issued a statement on Monday to say that it was alarmed at the current reports regarding harassment, intimidation and vindictive actions against human rights activists across the province.

“The Commission is considerably alarmed at the harassment of human rights activists across Sindh under the cover of blasphemy,” the statement read while pointing out the case of human rights activist Dr Arfana Mallah, a professor at the University of Sindh about whom it is said that the police were being pressurized to register an FIR against her under the blasphemy law. “Although, the police has shown restraint in lodging the FIR against Prof Mallah, the Commission finds this trend of settling ideological rivalries under the cover of blasphemy very dangerous for the peace and security of the province.

“The Commission, therefore, urges the authorities and all stakeholders, not to use the religious card to counter each other’s ideological differences.”

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2020