In a recent press statement, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) has expressed that it is deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives during the recent TLP protests. It has also blamed the PTI government for failing to take immediate action.
As violence continues to surge across major cities in Pakistan due to TLP protests, SHCBA has stated that the weaponization of religion for political objectives has caused this current crisis.
Read more: TLP brings Pakistan to standstill as protests erupt across major cities
What should have been a peaceful protest, has turned into a shocking display of brutality ranging from policemen being beaten to death by protestors to now police shootings on unarmed protestors in Lahore.
Many people have condemned the violent actions taken by the government while some have also stated that the human rights violation currently going on in Pakistan is similar to that of Kashmir.
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According to SHCBA, this is all due to the PTI government’s failure to peacefully resolve the TLP crisis in a timely and effective manner.
“The Sindh High Court Bar Association condemns the utter failure of the PTI government to peacefully resolve this crisis,” the statement said.
Accusing PTI
SHCBA further accused the government of being incompetent in its actions towards TLP i.e. proscription of TLP under the Anti-Terrorism Act as it has escalated the crisis.
Read more: TLP banned: Pakistan lauds Sheikh Rasheed, Government for bold decision
According to SHCBA, such an action is questionable because if the government really wanted to ban TLP then it would have done earlier when TLP leadership publicly called for the murder of the Chief Justice and Chief of Army Staff.
The Association also condemned the temporary ban on social media which took place on Friday and has called it unconstitutional as a complete restriction on social media only increases the spread of false information. It further asserted that the public’s right to know should be respected by the government and PEMRA.
Read more: Social media including Whatsapp, YouTube temporarily blocked in Pakistan
“SHCBA calls upon the actors within the deep State to own responsibility for their past errors and take positive measures to mitigate the fallout from those errors and to desist from such adventures in future,” the statement concluded.