KARACHI: Processions were taken out and meetings held yesterday [Jan 17] throughout the country to observe the “Demands Day”, organised by the Democratic Action Committee (DAC).

In Dacca, where processions are banned, Police resorted to lathi-charge and tear-gassing on the processionists. Four persons were arrested.

In Rawalpindi, 9 persons were detained for interrogation. In the rest of the towns of East and West Pakistan processions and meetings were held peacefully calling upon the people to continue their struggle till their demands were realised.

A procession was also taken out in Karachi followed by a public meeting at Arambagh, which was addressed by DAC leaders.

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Hyderabad,] Air Marshal Asghar Khan said here today [Jan 17] that the only solution to the present unrest in the country was that the Government hold “fair and impartial elections” on the basis of universal suffrage.

He said that the “restore democracy” movement would continue till what he called the present “undemocratic and unrepresentative Gover­nment was replaced by a representative one”.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019