April 2, 2008...5:46 pm
People’s Resistance demands immediate inquiry into Rangers’ maltreatment of Professor
How could we claim to be a democratic country where academics, ostensibly a sacred profession if one were to follow our own rhetoric, are mauled for speaking up?? I am posting a press release from the citizen’s group, People’s Resistance that gives a detailed account of the rotten incident.
KARACHI, April 1: The People’s Resistance, a coalition of pro-democracy individuals and organisations, strongly condemns and demands immediate inquiry into the manhandling and beating up of Dr Riaz Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Applied Chemistry at Karachi University by Pakistan Rangers.
On Monday, March 31, Dr Riaz attempted to drive out of the campus from the Silver Jubilee gate. Rangers deployed in the campus had closed all entry and exit gates following a clash between two student groups and refused to open the gate for Dr Riaz’s car. After some harsh words they dragged him out of the car, abused him, kicked him with their boots, and severely beat him with their fists, batons and rifle butts. They dragged up to two meters in the presence of their Commandant Colonel Iftekhar. Students who tried to protect Dr Riaz were also injured. Some teachers and students took the injured professor to the Aga Khan Hospital where a medico-legal exam was carried out.
We demand:
• An immediate, full-scale and high level inquiry into the incident
• Removal of Rangers from university
• The registration of an FIR against the Rangers involved in brutalising the Karachi University professor and the due process of law to punish the culprits.
It should be noted that Dr. Riaz was among the university professors and staff who have consistently opposed the deployment of Rangers at the university since this move was made after the ban on student unions in the 1980s. The Rangers’ deployment at KU has not only made the security situation worse at the institution, but also resulted in a disruption of the academic atmosphere. Some months ago, Dr Riaz had berated the Rangers for kicking students’ book-bags; one of the Rangers involved in that incident was among the four who maltreated him yesterday.
Peoples Resistance joins organisations like HRCP, AHRC and others in condemning the treatment meted out to Dr Riaz Ahmed and demanding a full-scale inquiry into the incident, stern action against the culprits, and the immediate filing of an FIR against the culprits to ensure justice for Dr Riaz Ahmed.
1 Comment
April 3, 2008 at 6:57 am
do we need further proof that the country can now well and truly be called a fascist state? i wonder whether the present government will continue the age-old tradition of the carrying of the fasces (virtual or otherwise) or choose to dispense with them for a change.
i wait with bated breath and whimpering bumbleness.
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