HYDERABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) Hyderabad chapter was stopped from holding a protest on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances outside the Hyderabad Press Club on Saturday.
From early morning, a heavy contingent of police and other law enforcement personnel had been deployed outside the press club to block the HRCP’s scheduled programme and demonstration.
HRCP Coordinator Ghufrana Arain, along with members Imdad Chandio, Pushpa Kumari, and others, reached the press club hall at the scheduled time to begin the programme. However, the police asked the organisers to first display the banners prepared for the protest. After photographing the banners, officers barred them from staging the demonstration once the programme concluded.
Families of missing persons, who were expected to join, reportedly stayed away due to fear. Later, when participants attempted to march outside, the police surrounded them despite repeated requests from organisers. As the group raised slogans while holding banners at the press club gate, police warned of arrests, forcing them to keep their protest brief before dispersing. Most of the participants were women.
Speaking to The News about the police action, SSP Adeel Chandio said the step was taken to prevent any untoward situation, including the possible raising of “anti-Pakistan slogans.”
