Liaqat Baagh…..

the battle field

Written by: Jawad Mazhar (ROD)

Law enforcement agencies and police perpetrated severe torture and baton charge on
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) workers in a
bid to pre-empt them gathering at Liaqat Baagh to protest against the Emergency imposed
by the President Musharraf in the country. PPP Chief Benazir Bhutto taken into house
arrest and scores of PPP & APMA political activist arrested from different places from all
across the country, particularly from the Punjab province. Twin cities of Islamabad &
Rawalpindi were sealed for all kinds of incoming traffic to prevent the workers gather at
Liaqat Baagh.

Talking to the ROD on phone APMA chief Shahbaz Bhatti said “PPP and APMA were to
stage a protest rally at Liaqat Baagh, Rawalpindi on Friday Nov, 9th, 2007 against the
promulgation of emergency, suspension of basic human rights and banning the media”
Shahbaz Bhatti also said that APMA would keep on struggling until the restoration of the
constitution, human rights and democracy in Pakistan.

APMA’s Provincial director of Sindh and Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh

Saleem Khursheed Khokhar apprised ROD that more than 68 APMA activists has been
detained from different parts of the Punjab while they were trying to reach Liaqat Baagh.
Khokhar added that police took APMA workers heavy handed and wielded baton charge
in a barbarian way at the Committee Chowk (square) and Attock Bridge.

Saleem Khursheed Khokhar maintained that an army officer has desecrated the
constitution by usurping the judiciary and making Parliament a rubber stamp. Talking
about the government’s assault against the political workers Khokhar said that the police
and other agencies blocked the roads leading to Liaqat Baagh, arrested workers and
searched every public vehicle which was ferrying people to the Country’s Capital or
Rawalpindi.

APMA’s zonal chief of Sargodha Tahir Naveed Chaudhary said that officials obstructed
the Attock Bridge and stopped two buses there, which were taking workers to Rawalpindi
and tortured them harshly. Chaudhary said that caravan from Faisalabad was stopped at
Chakkri and workers from Nankana were stopped at Sohavah near Rawalpindi.

Talking about the strict measures taken by the government, Sargodha’s Zonal Chief Tahir
Naveed Chaudhary said that official even did not allow a flying bird to enter Rawalpindi
today. He expressed his concern as APMA’s director of Punjab Mr Khalid Gill is missing
and they are totally unable to contact or locate him. Another APMA worker Malik Arif
Khokhar has been detained as well added Chaudhary.

In a joint statement Tahir Naveed Chaudhary & Saleem Khursheed Khokhar asserted that
on Nov 13th during the long march from Lahore to Islamabad they’ll prove that all the
people of Pakistan wants to get rid of Musharraf’s regime. They avowed that they would
stage sit down strike in front of the Official Residence of President of Pakistan against the
infliction of emergency by demanding schedule of elections, release of lawyers, media
men and political and human rights activists.

APMA chief Shahbaz Bhatti condemned the Emergency imposed by the army general
and appealed the world’s able leaders to come forward to help us restore constitution and
democracy in Pakistan.

Jawad Mazhar ends.