Police personnel suspended for manhandling women protesters in Karachi

KARACHI: At least ten policemen, including Eidgah Station House Officer (SHO) Zaheer Ahmad, were suspended on Monday for allegedly misbehaving with women protesters during a demonstration in the port city a day earlier.

According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Syed Asad Raza, a departmental inquiry has been started against him.

The development came a day after two opposing groups of protesters violated Section 144 and clashed with riot police in Karachi on October 13 (Sunday). The restrictions were imposed before Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi called for a ban on demonstrations and gatherings of more than five people across the city.

As a result of this chaos, more than 100 arrests were made during the protests in connection with the murder of Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbhar, accused of blasphemy murder.

He further said that disciplinary action has been recommended against two senior police officers posted on security duty at Karachi Press Club.

According to DIG South, the suspended officials were identified with the help of CCTV footage.

The participants of the “Sindh Swari March” clashed with the police outside the Press Club, resisting arrests for violating Article 144.

Police officials noted that more than 100 protesters belonging to separate groups were detained from different parts of the city, including outside Karachi Press Club, Hotel Metropole and Jinnah Hospital.

Civil society members as well as human rights defenders and activists condemned the police brutality against the protestors, alleging that the violence was being done at the behest of the Sindh government.

The use of police force to disperse the protesters was later condemned by several Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) politicians, including senior leader Senator Sherry Rehman, who apologized for the violence on behalf of the party.

“We are a democratic party, and the rights of citizens should be protected and respected even if they are violating today’s 144. I have spoken to many people from Islamabad on phone who have been mistreated, and apologized, and appreciated their understanding.” Posted on X, formerly Twitter.