Offensive taken: Case registered against effigy-burning protesters
The FIR has been registered against 50 members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party
The FIR has been registered against 50 members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party PHOTO: AFP
MULTAN:
An FIR has been registered against 50 members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party, under the Maintenance of Public Order, for burning Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s effigy during a demonstration and using abusive words for him. The party’s chairman and 10 women members are among those nominated in the FIR.
Police said members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party had held a protest against the government at Mailsi Chowk in Kehror Pucca tehsil, Lodhran,. The protesters had demanded that Dera Ismail Khan and Tank be included in Multan district. One of the protesters said that Dera Ismail Khan and Tank used to be a part of Multan but were separated from it in 1901 by Lord Curzon. “We believe that this was unjust and we demand a reversal of that.”
During the demonstration, members of the party shouted slogans against the prime minister and burned an effigy of him. They also blocked the road for several hours.
Police said the language they had used against the prime minister was offensive.
The protesters had accused the government of favouring Punjabis and discriminating against Seraiki speaking people. “The Punjabi elite dominate all government institutions…top jobs are handed out to those loyal to the prime minister.”
The City police registered an FIR under Section 148-149/16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (dissemination of rumour). Police said they were looking for Rana Faraz Ahmad Noon and other workers of the Seraikistan Democratic Party.
Scores of members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party in Multan held parallel protest demonstrations against the government in Multan on Bosan Road, Nawabpur Road, Khanewal Road and Bahawalpur Road. They too burned the prime minister’s effigy and shouted slogans against government.
The Seraikistan Democratic Party has condemned the registration of an FIR against party workers. Abida Bukhari, a member of the party women’s wing, said this amounted to state terrorism. She demanded that the cases be withdrawn. “We will hold large demonstrations against the government if it does not take the case against our workers back. We Seraikis have been victimised for too long.” Enayatullah Mashraqi, another member, said holding protests was a constitutional right.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2015.
An FIR has been registered against 50 members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party, under the Maintenance of Public Order, for burning Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s effigy during a demonstration and using abusive words for him. The party’s chairman and 10 women members are among those nominated in the FIR.
Police said members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party had held a protest against the government at Mailsi Chowk in Kehror Pucca tehsil, Lodhran,. The protesters had demanded that Dera Ismail Khan and Tank be included in Multan district. One of the protesters said that Dera Ismail Khan and Tank used to be a part of Multan but were separated from it in 1901 by Lord Curzon. “We believe that this was unjust and we demand a reversal of that.”
During the demonstration, members of the party shouted slogans against the prime minister and burned an effigy of him. They also blocked the road for several hours.
Police said the language they had used against the prime minister was offensive.
The protesters had accused the government of favouring Punjabis and discriminating against Seraiki speaking people. “The Punjabi elite dominate all government institutions…top jobs are handed out to those loyal to the prime minister.”
The City police registered an FIR under Section 148-149/16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (dissemination of rumour). Police said they were looking for Rana Faraz Ahmad Noon and other workers of the Seraikistan Democratic Party.
Scores of members of the Seraikistan Democratic Party in Multan held parallel protest demonstrations against the government in Multan on Bosan Road, Nawabpur Road, Khanewal Road and Bahawalpur Road. They too burned the prime minister’s effigy and shouted slogans against government.
The Seraikistan Democratic Party has condemned the registration of an FIR against party workers. Abida Bukhari, a member of the party women’s wing, said this amounted to state terrorism. She demanded that the cases be withdrawn. “We will hold large demonstrations against the government if it does not take the case against our workers back. We Seraikis have been victimised for too long.” Enayatullah Mashraqi, another member, said holding protests was a constitutional right.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2015.