950808

Govt asked to stop

indiscriminate arrests

and killings in custody

KARACHI: Leaders of various political parties, while lamenting state terrorism in Karachi, demanded of the government to discontinue indiscriminate arrest of people immediately and killing of accused in police custody be also be stopped.

This was stated in a resolution adopted unanimously in a meeting of leaders of different political parties presided over by Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed at the residence of Nusrat Mirza President Pakistan Muhajir Rabita Council (PMRC) on Monday to discuss situation of Pakistan and Karachi particularly.

It was attended by Prof. Ghafoor Ahmed, Meraj Mohammad Khan, Mir Nawaz Khan Marwat, Nawab Yamin, Mir Riasat Ali, Ahmed Dara, Nahid Afzal, Azad-bin Haider, Qari Sher Afzal, Abdus Sami Khan, Amanullah Khan and others.

The mneeting condemned arrest of family members of any accused and termed it clear violation of human rights. It urged the police and rangers to act as law enforcing agencies of Pakistan (and not of PPP)and avoid to involve people in false cases.

The participants hailed the spirit for Pakistan expressed by Muhajir, Sindhi, Baloch, Sarieki, Punjabi, and Pashtoon communities by foiling alleged government attempts of creating ethnic riots.

The government should not divide the people and victimise, particular group. Other linguistic groups should not be provoked, it further alleged.

They appealed to government and MQM to be serious in dialogue as solidarity and stability of the country depends on success or failure of the talks.

They demanded that both parties restart talks without indulging in unconcerned matters. The negotiations should not be made fun of and leaders in parliaments should oversee the dialogue as referees.

By another resolution they also demanded of MQM and other militant groups to give up politics of arms as it has shattered democratic norms and values.

They demanded establishment of a judicial commission to review deaths of those killed in police custody or in police encounters and fix responsibility of these deaths. Jurisdiction of this commission should be extended upto entire Sindh including Karachi.

They called for provision of facilities to prisoners according to jail manual and condemned the alleged role of agencies officials committed with people who pay taxes for their establishment.

They condemned efforts to further divide MQM and expressed apprehension that by formation of a new group a new chain of killings in Karachi could start.-PPI