Saad Rafique’s arrest criticized

Published February 20, 2006

ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights has condemned the arrest of MNA Khwaja Saad Rafique.

In a press release issued by PCHR Secretariat on Saturday, Shafique Chaudhry, the chief coordinator of PCHR, said it was an act to curtail freedom of expression in the country. He said the arrest was unjustified after the MNA had made it clear that he was not involved in any unlawful activity during the violent protest in Lahore. “The arrest of a member of parliament will not serve the government efforts to improve the country’s image,” he maintained.

He said if law-enforcement agencies had any allegation against Mr Rafique, they should have brought it into the notice of the speaker National Assembly.

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