Locals bemoan arrests on ‘ethnic grounds’
Say police are picking up people based on racial profiling
A doctor treats an injured victim of the Monday night blast. PHOTO: APP
LAHORE:
On Tuesday morning, locals were still reeling from the shock of the Sagian Bridge blast which left two people dead and injured another 45.
However, that was far from the end of their ordeal as some spent the night in jail after being arrested on suspicion of involvement. The area where the blast occurred is a locality which wakes up early as early as 5am.
Chief minister told suspects have been identified
Most of the residents are street vendors, carpenters and bus drivers or employees of the Sabzi Mandi who work for the Lahore Municipal Corporation. The woes of locals were exasperated by the fact that many were picked up by the police. Some of those arrested contended it was a case of guilt by association as many belonged to the Pukhtun community.
“My two twin sons suffered injuries as they were going to offer prayers at a nearby mosque,” commented Manzoorullah, a government employee. He hailed from the Lower Dir area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from where his sons Rizwanullah and Sibghatullah had arrived in Lahore to meet their father, “They are students and also victims of the blast. Why did the police take them into custody?” he asked.
The resident said he lived in a small house with others and all of them were probed by law enforcement agencies. “I know the law and order situation in Pakistan is dire and I am not saying that police should not do their job, but I ask that stereotyping be avoided. “We are also peaceful people, just like in other parts of the city,” he commented.
Under Sagian Bridge, where the blast occurred, law enforcement agencies remained vigilant and sealed off the crime scene, while forensic experts were busy collecting evidence. Locals also gathered around half-a-kilometre away from the scene of the crime and the blast was the only thing on their minds. “The amount of explosive used was substantial and would have wreaked havoc if detonated near a public building,” a local said, while pointing towards shattered windowpanes and litter around the street.
“Look, this area was 400 metres away from the blast site, but the impact is terrible. Thank God Lahore has been saved,” said a grateful Arshad Mehmood.
Bomb rips through fruit truck in Lahore; 45 injured
Following the blast, law enforcement agencies intensified their operations in the locality and started door-to-door operations. The locals seemed ever ready to cooperate as they understood that these measures had been taken for public safety. However, many of the Pukhtuns asked not to be targeted due to their ethnicity.
Observers said police had started racial profiling after the February 13, 2017, blast on Mall Road. It was reported from certain Punjab districts that authorities had informally asked the population to keep an eye on suspicious individuals who look like Pukhtuns or are from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. “There are a large number of Pukhtuns living over here and they are in fear of racial profiling by the administration or law enforcement agencies, once again,” commented a resident, seeking anonymity.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2017.
On Tuesday morning, locals were still reeling from the shock of the Sagian Bridge blast which left two people dead and injured another 45.
However, that was far from the end of their ordeal as some spent the night in jail after being arrested on suspicion of involvement. The area where the blast occurred is a locality which wakes up early as early as 5am.
Chief minister told suspects have been identified
Most of the residents are street vendors, carpenters and bus drivers or employees of the Sabzi Mandi who work for the Lahore Municipal Corporation. The woes of locals were exasperated by the fact that many were picked up by the police. Some of those arrested contended it was a case of guilt by association as many belonged to the Pukhtun community.
“My two twin sons suffered injuries as they were going to offer prayers at a nearby mosque,” commented Manzoorullah, a government employee. He hailed from the Lower Dir area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from where his sons Rizwanullah and Sibghatullah had arrived in Lahore to meet their father, “They are students and also victims of the blast. Why did the police take them into custody?” he asked.
The resident said he lived in a small house with others and all of them were probed by law enforcement agencies. “I know the law and order situation in Pakistan is dire and I am not saying that police should not do their job, but I ask that stereotyping be avoided. “We are also peaceful people, just like in other parts of the city,” he commented.
Under Sagian Bridge, where the blast occurred, law enforcement agencies remained vigilant and sealed off the crime scene, while forensic experts were busy collecting evidence. Locals also gathered around half-a-kilometre away from the scene of the crime and the blast was the only thing on their minds. “The amount of explosive used was substantial and would have wreaked havoc if detonated near a public building,” a local said, while pointing towards shattered windowpanes and litter around the street.
“Look, this area was 400 metres away from the blast site, but the impact is terrible. Thank God Lahore has been saved,” said a grateful Arshad Mehmood.
Bomb rips through fruit truck in Lahore; 45 injured
Following the blast, law enforcement agencies intensified their operations in the locality and started door-to-door operations. The locals seemed ever ready to cooperate as they understood that these measures had been taken for public safety. However, many of the Pukhtuns asked not to be targeted due to their ethnicity.
Observers said police had started racial profiling after the February 13, 2017, blast on Mall Road. It was reported from certain Punjab districts that authorities had informally asked the population to keep an eye on suspicious individuals who look like Pukhtuns or are from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. “There are a large number of Pukhtuns living over here and they are in fear of racial profiling by the administration or law enforcement agencies, once again,” commented a resident, seeking anonymity.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2017.