Lahore, January 01: The Human Rights Commission
of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for immediate
disbandment of vigilante squads maintained by the
establishment or its favourite political party as
their interference with citizens’ normal affairs
is not only unlawful it would lead to chaos. In a
statement issued here today HRCP said:

On Monday night (Dec. 31) a most deplorable
incident took place in Gulberg area. A few young
girls, including Muneeza Jahangir, HRCP
Chairperson’s daughter and a well-known TV
producer / reporter, accompanied by a couple of
young men, decided to take photographs of some
election posters. Suddenly a bunch of armed
toughs pounced upon them, mercilessly beat up a
young man, dragged the girls and shut them up in
the office of the son of the outgoing Punjab
Chief Minister.

The armed goons abused the girls and threatened
them by pointing their guns at them, and offered
the same treatment to Ms. Asma Jahangir when she
arrived at the scene to rescue the girls. These
men had no right or authority to resort to
violence and imprison their victims in private
premises.

Worse, the culprits seemed to enjoy local
authorities’ patronage and were reportedly backed
by a couple of police constables in uniform.
HRCP calls for immediate disbandment of all such
private storm-troopers as their unlawful
activities will pose a serious threat to
citizens’ life and security and plunge society
into a total chaos. The interim rulers must
probe the matter and call the guilty to account,
that is, if they have the power to do so.

Iqbal Haider

Secretary-General

HRCP