LAHORE, May 3: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a number of trade unions on Wednesday demanded accountability of police for violence on a peaceful demonstration near the Lahore Press Club here on Tuesday.

HRCP secretary-general Iqbal Haider said the Punjab government should be ashamed of the wanton and brutal baton charge on women, children and old men who were peacefully protesting against the exploitation of workers.

“Everybody was aware of the contempt in which the officialdom, particularly its irresponsible police force, held the helpless bonded labour and those who dared to fight for them. But a government that allowed the hotheads in its employ to beat the pro-rights demonstrators with greater display of brutality than they dare to allow in case of arsonists, rioters and hardened criminals had no right to be called civilised. The incident should be probed by a high judicial authority and those guilty of abusing their authority must be suitably punished.”

BHATTA UNION: The Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union also condemned the violence against the brick kiln workers.

National Trade Union Federation chairman Yousaf Baloch, secretary general Mahmood Butt and Labour Party district chairman Moeen Nawaz Punnu said at a meeting police had not spared even women and children and arrested around 100 demonstrators. Those responsible for brutal action against the peaceful demonstrators should be proceeded against.

MLF: The Mutahidda Labour Federation, Pakistan, criticised police action at a meeting held here with Altaf Baloch in the chair.

Federation chairman Muhammad Yaqoob said the police had not only resorted to violence against demonstrators but also beaten up provincial secretary general Hanif Ramay for trying to mediate between the two. Those arrested during the demonstration should be set at liberty and cases registered against them withdrawn because the workers had a right to hold peaceful demonstrations. —Reporter