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.
@Muhammad Adnan Siddique; very sinsible, recommend your comments highly.
@MB; I believe in sources directly or things i have seen with my own eyes. Can’t trust newspapers or word of mouth. Anyways, the only reason i asked was, if he is a junior he wouldn’t know what happened 5 years ago!
I have seen rigging by PML during Nawaz times, its nothing new, infect a servant of my friend in sindh went to karachi to welcome BB because he was paid 300Rs, that was first step of rigging election, showing public how much support you have and getting more attention. If rigging happens in this election, it will go against Musharraf so I think he will not let that happen even if PML-Q looses.
While criticising these policemen, please also note that 6 policement were killed when a terrorist blew himself up to kill BB. How many of us have visited their graves or sent donations to their families? Is it fair to criticise when they are doing their job against violent protesters who also stone them and they still go on and die while protecting public interests ?
Besides, PMLQ will loose, they will be sitting with the ruling party tho, which will be PPP. PMLN & Mulana will sit in opposition. Musharraf will stay as President for another year, GEO will be back on cable, some of the judges will be back after parliment’s support but the ex-CJ will remain retired. Aitazaz hasan could become speaker.
Economic growth with continue for another year to two but the government will be weakend by the opposition, increase in militancy & loot by politicians. Pakistan will also get isolated because of the extremist elements.
Pakistan will either end up divided with Punjab & sindh forming one state or there will be a real Martiallaw.
Hope, Allah gives us patience to understand and work with each other.
@AM
you have raised some good question & the answer is coming shortly in detail but seriuosly after looking at these pics one should ask, where is the WOMEN protection bill now & what about all the bombardment of enlightened moderation onto our screens? Just like ZIA hijacked religion to prolong his power , similarly this man is stampede everything in his way to stay in power.
@Ahmad R. Shahid, as i remember, the protesters crossed the barriers that were set around the Election commission, tried to enter the EC building and a day before they said they will burn the EC building down.How civil is that?
“”Laton key bhoot batun sey nahe mantey””.
Saying so, I also want to add that, our police is very brutal. There should be laws to protect people from getting beaten badly (blood) and police should be taught civilian rights and trainned to handle such protests. Media should also play its role in educating people and promoting peaceful protesting.
Owais,
You are spot on entirely in this post which given recent posts and our recent disagreements in public and in private must surprise you and me!
I saw the images and was disgusted, when women are attacked for simply protesting peacefully then where do we stop?, what our red lines or are they now blurred too?
We must resist this martial law which lives on for our just judges are under arrest not least the Chief Justice as are the leaders and lions of the lawyers movement namely Justice Tariq Mehmood, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Aitzaz Ahsan.
The role of civil society and the warm welcome afforded to Justice Bhagwandas and Justice Rabbani in Karachi has given us all hope see below link: http://www.otherpakistan.org/martial.html
Feimanallah
Wasim
One thing i have noticed, which is quite strange too,considering the pro-MUSH are by-default enlightened that they bracket every anti-MUSH man as pro-Taliban.
Lolz, Isnt that conservativeness too ?
OR
Its just an easy way to escape the difficult questions we ask from president supporters, i.e just like the Mullah’s escape by labeling every anti-Mullah as AMERICAN AGENT & Israeli Agent.