A few days ago I highlighted this wrong, but today after after seeing photos of policemen mercilessly beating an unarmed lady, I am again left speechless at this shameful violence.
We at ATP have long worried about the senselessness of the violence (physical, psychological, verbal, social) that seems to keep growing in our society. All violence is bad, violence by the state is especially disturbing.
We strongly condemn this police brutality. Whoever is ordering such treatment of protesters is definitely taking people away from the ideals of Pakistan. How do you expect this poor lady (or her family or anyone seeing this) to trust the state after getting such a thrashing at the hands of the states law-enforcers? Those who are responsible to safeguard our dignity.
Police reform is the cry of the day. They absolutely need a crash course in human dignity and how to tackle protesters in a civilized way. Mercilessly beating ladies (or on anyone as a matter of fact) is inhuman and not part of our culture, or of any culture. No matter what one thinks about the protesters or what they are protesting, this violence by the police is wrong and shameful. We all must condemn it.
Police or their higherups should see how much anger is building up in people who are not afraid of confronting them with bare hands. This anger needs a channel such as allowing peaceful protest or it will spill out in wrong kind of violence as it probably happened the other day in Multan.
Whether we agree with protesters or not, peaceful protest is their right. Treat humans – all humans, everywhere – with dignity. If we do not, then our own dignity is compromised.
Our women folks are great and inspiring where do you find such women. They are just an icon for resistence. I salute them.
God will rewards them.
As for Pakistani police, it is sad that they can resort to such practice.
nangay deen, nangay millat, nangay watan,
Her name is Alia… she and her mother got beaten up pretty bad along with others. My mother was few steps behind when the police started throwing stones and bricks (not kidding) at them as the protesters tried going towards the Marriott.
From what I heard… the protest was fairly peaceful till the point of turn for the Judges’ Enclave. Police had cordoned off the roads leading to the enclave and a large contingent had been with them from Aabpara.
The protesters broke the first barricade after which the police got active and started pelting them from afar. Protesters responded in kind which was followed by tear gas shelling.
I think almost every woman arrested was released later, but they had confiscated the cell phones (hot market property I guess).
One thing needs to be reminded that this is NOT Islamabad Police. This is Punjab Constabulary and they are quite well known at least in Islamabad for breaking up riots with their ‘laathi charge’. In our student days we saw a lot of them after strikes and Islamabad Police always calls them up in times like these. Compared to them Islamabad Police are the nice guys and always the first in line. Its when the going gets tough that PC comes into play.
I am disappointed that events such as these do not get nearly the coverage they deserve in traditional media.
I think the issue is bigger than police reforms – we have steadily grown intolerant and violent as a society. Police is just an extension of this, with a small difference – they have the license to carry batons and guns.
It is shameful for law and enforcement authorities, i condemn them.
Pakistan is under martial law.