Protest against HRCP member’s kidnapping

ISLAMABAD: A protest was held outside the Islamabad Press Club on Saturday by members of the civil society.

The protest, organised under the patronage of Mehergarh, was against the disappearance of Veerji Kohli, a senior member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

Kohli actively campaigned against the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl on January 24, 2010, in the Tharparkar district.

The girl was allegedly raped by influential people from the area and no FIR was registered.

During the protest, members assembled outside the club, chanted slogans against the local police of Tharparkar and called for the safe return of Kohli, who was last seen at the Hyderabad Press Club on Thursday.

According to details, at the time of the rape, the local police called Kohli to a jirga where community leaders advised him to not publicise the matter. They told him to hand over the girl to the culprits so that she could be married to someone in their tribe.

Kohli was even threatened by the police if he did not comply with them.

The protesters demanded that the government take notice of the incident and appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take immediate action against those involved in the rape of the girl and the kidnapping of Kohli.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2010.