Daily Times

LAHORE: Activist Diep Saeeda has been barred from observing late governor martyred Salmaan Taseer’s 7th death anniversary after police detained her in her office at Garden Town for hours on Thursday.

Diep was active in organizing a candlelight vigil and other ceremonies to mark Taseer’s anniversary.

It is important to note that she had got injuries in an attack at Liberty Roundabout in 2015 on the occasion of the 5th death anniversary of Salmaan Taseer.

After the police detained her, she took to Facebook to say: “Have been detained in my office by the police, they are afraid of a candlelight vigil in memory of Salmaan Taseer. What a pathetic state of affairs.”

Social media users also condemned the incident.

Diep, talking to Daily Times, said she asked the police officer to allow her to organise vigil at any of alternative places but the police officer replied in ‘No”.

“Around 20 policemen are present inside and outside my office for last four hours and I am not allowed to coming out,” Diep said.

“I forwarded an application to SP Model Town Husnain at Ghalib Market for getting permission to hold candlelit vigil and requested for making sure proper security arrangements but he told me to get permission from DC Office,” said Diep, adding She also forwarded an application to DC on January 1, but DC Office did not reply on my application till today.

I’m unable to understand why the government did not allow her to arrange the vigil, said the activist.

-Application for security-

According to application that available with Daily Times, “Subject letter: Request for security for candle light vigil in memory of Late Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer. Letter stated that this is to let you know that on 4th January, 2018 Institute for peace and Secular Studies will be organizing a candle light vigil at Liberty Roundabout a 4:30 pm, in order to commemorate the 7th death anniversary of Late Salmaan Taseer. Our organization has been holding the candle light vigil on this day every year to show solidarity with the principles of tolerance, justice and humanism for which Late Salmaan Taseer laid down his life. IPSS believes in peaceful assembly of people who raise their concerns over human rights issues and expects the authorities to ensure that this right of expression is upheld by law enforcing authorities. It was unfortunate that on 4th January, 2015 a group of fanatics attacked our peaceful event by physically attacking and threatening those who were organizing and attending this event. We hope that such an incident won’t take place again. We request your office to provide us with adequate security for this event.”

This scribe tried to make contact with Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed and his spokesperson, as well SHOs Johar Town and Garden Town, on their cell phones to take their views on the matter but they did not respond.

On the other side, several candlelit vigil ceremonies were observed in the metropolis to pay tribute to Salmaan Taseer.