KARACHI: Workers and rights activists held a protest outside the Karachi Press Club against the illegal detention of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairman Asad Iqbal Butt.

They strongly condemned the undemocratic and unconstitutional actions of the police and demanded legal action against those involved and the immediate dismissal of the SHO of the Gulberg police station.

The protest was jointly organised by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), and Alternate

Zehra Khan, General Secretary of HBWWF, demanded a thorough investigation into the illegal detention and the dismissal of the involved officers to prevent future violations.

She stressed that state institutions were attempting to suppress voices advocating for human rights, which was a clear violation of the Constitution and human rights.

She said that on July 25, the HRCP chairperson was arrested without legal justification by officers from the Gulberg police station and detained for almost four hours, causing significant concern among human rights activists.

Saeed Baloch, General Secretary of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, said that the detention of Asad Iqbal Butt was a violation of the Constitution, and such actions were causing increasing anger among the public, posing a threat to the government.

The protesters demanded complete investigation into Asad Iqbal’ss illegal detention, protection for those raising their voices against human rights violations and immediate recovery of Comrade Rehman Baloch and other missing persons.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2024