Pre-emptive measure: Students detained for hours over protest plan

LAHORE: The Lahore police detained at least 11 students for hours on Friday on planning to organise a protest against extremism outside the Lahore Press Club.

The students had titled their protest ‘Insaan Bachao Tehreek’ in response to the protest called by several religious outfits three days before on the death anniversary of Salmaan Taseer.

One of the students shared their intentions on Facebook that was brought into the notice of the law enforcement agencies, which acted pre-emptively and arrested the group to avoid any untoward incident.

The students had planned to protest at Liberty Chowk, where imposition of Section 144 does not allow gathering of four or more people. They later moved the protest location to Lahore Press Club, where the Race Course police rounded them up.

A few students fled the scene and informed the families of the arrested colleagues, leading to an outcry on social media. Soon a huge number of civil society activists gathered outside the police station.

The detained students were only released after their parents signed surety bonds.

Digital rights activist Nighat Dad told The Express Tribune that the SHO told her the students were detained under Section 107 and 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code that allowed him to take action when he got information that someone was going to create a law and order situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2017.