Key Takeaways
- Activists of the Haqooq-i-Khalq Party were detained during a peaceful demonstration outside the press club.
- The Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee condemned the arbitrary arrest of its member, Farooq Tariq.
- Protesters demand constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Activists from the Haqooq-i-Khalq Party were arrested on Friday while holding a peaceful demonstration outside the press club in Lahore. The protest was organized to show solidarity with the Joint Action Committee of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
Farooq Tariq, an activist with the party, was among those detained and reportedly dragged, harassed, and forcibly taken away by Punjab Police.
The Haqooq-i-Khalq Party expressed deep concerns over the arrests and demanded immediate release of all detainees. The party spokesperson stated that there is no information about the whereabouts of Farooq Tariq or other activists.
Punjab Police arrested dozens of protesters, including Muzammil Kakar and Hussain Jameel Faridi, along with members of Khalq Youth Front and Progressive Students Collective.
The Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC) strongly condemned the arbitrary arrest of its Federal Committee member, Farooq Tariq. The committee said that incommunicado detention is unacceptable and violates constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and political dissent.
Farooq Tariq later shared a status on his social media accounts, rescheduling today’s protest and advising people not to go to Shimla Hill (press club) now. He stated they will organize the protest again with permission.
The protest was organized in solidarity with the Azad Jammu & Kashmir’s Joint Awami Action Committee, which has been demanding democratic rights, economic justice, and accountable governance since early June.
The committee claims that 30 protesters have been killed by the crackdown by armed forces since polling day on July 27. Their main demand includes the abolition of 12 assembly seats for Kashmiris living in various cities of Pakistan.
The PKRC has also demanded an end to the criminalisation of peaceful political activity and solidarity protests, respect for constitutional rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
We are rescheduling today’s protest. We will organise it again. Please do not go to Shimla Hill (press club) now.
Farooq Tariq, Activist
The incommunicado detention is unacceptable and it violates the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and political dissent.
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC), Committee Member
