LAHORE, April 14: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over the arrest of hundreds of political workers here “meant to prevent them from greeting Asif Ali Zardari at the airport on April 16.” In a statement issued by its secretary-general Iqbal Haider, the HRCP said the arrests were deeply disturbing. The actions of the authorities against activists, the bar placed on a public assembly through the Section 144 and the harsh language used by the provincial administration in warning PPP leaders not to allow any public gathering proved that democratic rights remained brutally repressed in the country, it said.

The HRCP said despite the claims of leaders to the contrary, citizens and political activists in particular had repeatedly been denied their basic democratic right to assemble to draw attention towards their concerns.

It condemned the actions being taken to prevent any public rally on April 16, and warned that such measures could act only to widen the sense of disillusionment and frustration of people and to marginalize mainstream political forces.