HYDERABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Hyderabad special task force on Monday held a demonstration against the fresh wave of terrorism in Pakistan, which according to HRCP, claimed the lives of nearly 300 people while injuring another 500 people in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bomb blasts.
Reportedly, the human rights activists carrying banners and placards, chanted slogans against allowing the ‘proscribed’ religious extremist groups to participate in the upcoming general elections. While condemning the suicide attacks strongly, the rally led by HRCP Sindh chairman Asad Iqbal Butt and HRCP Hyderabad coordinator Ashothama Luhano, appealed to the caretaker government and other human rights organisations to actively play their part for saving democratic norms in Pakistan.
The participants asserted that such groups do not believe in democratic principles, and yet they were allowed to take part in elections. Besides, advocate Parveen Soomro, advocate Amjad Palijo, Ross Mithrani, Pardeep Kalani and several notables also participated in the rally.
ADAO, civil society join campaign against drug abuse
The Anti-Drug Abuse Organisation (ADAO) and Hyderabad’s civil society on Monday spearheaded a stiff campaign across the district against the menace of open drug sale and to raise awareness amongst the youths regarding its harmful effects.
Reportedly, the office bearers of ADAO including Lala Haleem, general (rtd) Zafar Javed Khwaja, Dr Fasih Tariq, Usman Soomro, Parveen Bano and others expressed grave concerns over the maladministration, incompetence and mismanagement of the district administration and law enforcement agencies for not controlling the sale of drugs including ‘Charas’, ‘Ghutka’, ‘Manpuri’ etc.
They asserted that youths were being addicted to drugs at an alarming rate while the police officers were busy in providing security and protocol to the politicians.
They appealed to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for taking a stern action against drug peddlers on priority basis, and warned otherwise, to stage a demonstration in front of his office.
Published in Daily Times, July 17th 2018.