Joint Action Committee (JAC) on Monday has strongly condemned a recent attack on peaceful demonstrators in Lahore by religious extremists. They demanded that government should take strict action against those extremist elements who were involved in this attack.
Mohammad Tahseen Secretary Pakistan civil Society Forum said this while addressing a press conference along with noted human rights activist Hina Jilani, Secretary General Awami Workers Party Farooq Tariq, Irfan Mufti Deputy Director South Asia Partnership -Pakistan, and Seyda Deep, human rights activist. The civil society activists showed serious concern on the rising violence in society; amidst claims from government for controlling extremism and terrorism in the society. They also condemned the arrest of peaceful protestors in Peshawar, attacks on peaceful assemblies of CSOs in Islamabad and Lahore.
Tahseen said that it clearly show that claims of government are baseless and the government lacks political will to control such forces. The security policies adopted to defeat other 'ideologies' and 'enemies' has proven counterproductive. Our agencies built in 1980s are targeting innocent citizens and state institutions hence proved total failure of the approach and mind-set for which those were created.
"Similarly we believe, deep rooted extremism, hate and militancy in society, require clear commitment, focused actions and resolve from all government and state institutions, political parties, civil society and law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately we do not see this resolve in wake of recent incidents which clearly show weakness of state institutions to control such forces of coercion and aggression," Tehseen said.
Civil Society representatives demanded that serious and clear actions be taken against those who are challenging writ of the state. They also demanded actions against such madrassahs and religious parties and groups who are instigating violence and militancy using religion, faith, sect and other ideologies as excuse for imposing violence. Present government must show its will and determination to clean society of all such elements threatening citizens' rights to peaceful assembly, expression and association. Strict actions must be taken against them.
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