The activists of the civil society and lawyers' community on Sunday condemned the brutal act of torture against journalists, Parliamentarians and lawyers outside the office of Chief election commissioner of Pakistan in Islamabad.
"It was a peaceful protest but police beaten up even women lawyers. Policemen were laughing and enjoying while beating lawyers," said Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig. Police deliberately fired more tear gas, apparently to keep protesters bottled up in the Supreme Court compound. Condemning the violence against lawyers and journalists Aziz Akbar Baig said no civilised society can tolerate violence and aggression against its members and any act, no matter from individual or institution should be condemned.
He said we believed that protection and promotion of the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens is the primary responsibility of the state government under their obligation as signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
He maintained that by committing severe violence against the peaceful lawyers and journalists in Islamabad and as well in Karachi clearly indicates Musharraf government commitment to international commitments precisely meant to protect and promote human rights. He severely criticised the harsh attitude of police against lawyers and journalists.
He informed that media is the founding concept of a police service in every civilised society is that it should serve the community, not the State. However, the lawyer said, in Pakistan police has been serving to protect the interests of despotic regimes since the creation of the country in 1947.
He demanded that all the arrested lawyers should be released immediately and responsible police officers should be get punished. Mian Nawaz Sharif's counsel Ex-Senator Malik Rafiq Rajwana also condemned the brutality of the administration in Islamabad.