Tensions Rise as Kashmiri Lawyers Detained During Islamabad Protest
In Islamabad, Kashmiri lawyers and members of the Islamabad Bar Association were arrested during a protest despite prior requests for a peaceful demonstration. Their grievances included alleged harassment by police, comparing their treatment to public support for protests in PoJK while highlighting the ongoing struggles in the region.
- Country:
- Pakistan
On Thursday, Islamabad became the focal point of unrest as Kashmiri lawyers and members of the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) were detained during a protest outside the National Press Club. These arrests, prominently featuring women, unfolded despite the Bar Association's formal appeal to authorities for ensuring a non-violent protest environment.
In a letter to the Station House Officer of Kohsar Police Station, IBA President Chaudhary Naeem Ali Gujjar, requested permission and collaboration from the police to facilitate the demonstration. The correspondence underlined that the protest, organized by Association members from Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK), aimed to express solidarity with the Public Action Committee of PoJK and advocate for the rights and aspirations of the region's populace.
Assurances were given by the IBA to conduct a 'peaceful and lawful' protest, maintaining respect for public order and non-participants alike. Contrary to this, police actions led to the detention of the lawyers, many found cramped inside police vans. Videos and testimonies from within those vehicles depicted a tableau of frustration, with accusations of harassment by law enforcement. 'We are political workers, not criminals. Even our women have been arrested,' lamented one lawyer.
Another lawyer criticized the hypocrisy, stating, 'The Prime Minister says every citizen has the right to protest. Then why are we being beaten and arrested?' The detained group compared Islamabad's harsh measures against their protest to its supportive stance towards demonstrations in PoJK. 'You encourage protests in PoJK, yet protest here results in force and arrests,' a lawyer stated. Protesters also drew attention to the deteriorating conditions in PoJK, charging the state with violent and intimidating tactics against local citizens. 'For the first time in history, Kashmiris have taken up arms against those claiming governance over them,' observed a lawyer, attributing the unrest to deep-seated issues. (ANI)
(With inputs from agencies.)
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