Statement

Pakistani Police should respect the law and should not obey illegal orders of their leadership. Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network (SHRDN) express its serious concern over targeting the peaceful protest held by human rights activists Ms Sasui and Sorath Lohar whose father Hidayat Lohar was murdered in Larkana a few weeks ago.

Protest was held by the daughters of murdered teacher and also activists Hidayat Lohar against the attitude of the Larkana police who refuse to lodge FIR as per verbatim. According to them, FIR was not being lodged by the police against the nominated person whose NIC card was found at the place of the murder site.

Pakistani law says that under section 154 CrPC, FIR of the cognizable offence will be lodged by the police be lodged by the police but practically police is reluctant to lodge FIRs without the orders of their high ups. In these situations, people have to hold demonstrations or go to the court to get their FIRs registered under section 22 A & B CrPC. In case of protests, generally, police use force to disperse the protesters and also lodge FIRs against them. Currently, Anti Terrorism Laws are also being applied on political workers and protestors, activists who hold such protests against the state or police.

This is violation of fundamental human rights and against the national and international law and norms. On March 17, 2024, activists Sorath Sasui, Fozia Sarang, Suhni Joyo, Sarang Joyo, Taj Joyo and adv Muhib held protest at Larkana and they were severely beaten and tortured. Police arrested Sasui and Sorath Lohar along with other supporters and kept at Sachal police Station. Later when civil society of Sindh and human rights defenders reacted then they released women activists but did not release male protestors and booked them into an ATA case. Renowned author and activist Taj Joyo was also beaten and baton charged by the Larkana Police whose marks on his back were conspicuous and covered by the media.

Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network (SHRDN) condemn this kind of anti human rights behaviour of Larkana police and demand a judicial inquiry into the incident in which force was used against peaceful protestors and human rights defenders.

Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network also express its serious concern over the lack of compliance and implementation of Police Act which hold police accountable in the province. Sindh Safety Commission an over sight provincial body is not being formed. Law also says district police oversight bodies will also be formed but seems the present government does not want to implement that law and intends to let the police function without legal oversight.

Sindh Human Rights Network demands action against those police officers who used force against the peaceful protestors, release of political workers detained in that case and also cancel that case against the human rights defenders who did peaceful protest for their human rights.

Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network

Contact: 0300-3042312