Socialist (Pakistan)
An online magazine supplement to monthly Socialist Urdu
Military-men Attack University Teacher/Activist –
Protest Continues in Karachi and Campuses throughout Pakistan
09/April/2008April 09 Update Scores of demonstrators protested on the 7th of April at
the Silver Jubilee Gate outside the Karachi University against the savage
attack perpetrated by the Sindh Rangers on Dr. Riaz Ahmed. April 07 Update Members
of Peoples Resistance, International Socialist Pakistan, representatives of The
participants unanimously decided to hold a demonstration at There
has been an overwhelming response to this call. Various student groups and
teachers representatives have committed themselves to participating in this
demonstration as well as all subsequent mobilizations. Political parties from
the left, civil society activists and trade unionists will also join the
demonstration in large numbers. Moreover all concerned citizens are requested
to join tomorrow’s demonstration. To coordinate please call: 0333-2441656 In
another update, the sessions court today decided to uphold Dr. Riaz’s right
of lodging an FIR against his attackers. His application for bail will be
heard tomorrow by the court. Moreover,
the Lastly,
this incident has been extensively covered by the media and the treatment
meted out to Dr. Riaz has been roundly condemned. To read today’s editorial
by the largest circulating English daily regarding this issue click here. April 06 Update Dr.
Riaz’s lawyer filed a petition in the session’s court requesting that
his client should be allowed to file an FIR against his attackers. The matter
is pending before the court and a decision is expected on Monday the 7th
of April when the bail hearing of Dr. Riaz will also be conducted. In this
regard it is imperative for political and civil society activists, teachers
and other professionals, and concerned citizens in general to publicly
condemn and protest against the treatment meted out to a renowned professor
of We call
upon all concerned citizens to join us in discussing this issue further and
in formulating a plan of action at the office of the Aurat Foundation at 5
pm, Sunday, the 6th of April. The address of the office is: D-3/1,
Block-7KDA Scheme No. 5 Clifton , Karachi 75600
Pakistan Tel:
(021) 582 4694 Background On
Monday, the 31st of March, Dr. Riaz Ahmed of International
Socialist Pakistan was brutally assaulted by Rangers personnel
inside the premises of When Dr.
Riaz demanded that he be allowed to leave he was savagely attacked and beaten
by four Rangers personnel, two of which, Havaldars Anwar ul Haq and Ihtesham,
have been identified. At the time the personnel were under the command of
Colonel Iftikhar who was present at the scene. Owing to a severe thrashing by
rifle butts and sticks, Dr. Riaz has suffered serious injuries to his head
and back. Owing to his injuries he was hospitalized at the Agha Khan
University hospital, but not before agitating for two hours along with
students at the treatment meted out to him. On the 1st
of April, the general body of the Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS)
met in an emergency session to discuss the atrocities perpetrated by the
Sindh Rangers. Addressed by Dr. Riaz and others, the body unanimously
condemned the actions of the Rangers personnel and called for their immediate
removal from the University campus. They also demanded that the attackers
should be immediately arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.
Moreover, in solidarity with Dr. Riaz, university teachers also boycotted
classes and seminars throughout the day. On the
same day, a demonstration was held by the International Socialist Pakistan as well as other political parties and organizations at the Karachi Press Club. The demonstrators vociferously protested against
the savage treatment meted out to Dr. Riaz and demanded the immediate
withdrawal of armed services personnel not only from educational institutions
but from all aspects of public affairs. They were of the view that the recent
announcement by the newly formed government to revive student unions could
only be effective if armed services personnel were immediately removed from
campuses. On the 2nd
of April, the Sindh Rangers, in a move aimed to deflect growing criticism of
their actions, filed an FIR against Dr. Riaz at the Mobina Town Police
Station. Among other charges, the report accused Dr. Riaz of causing bodily
harm to the Rangers personnel! In
response, the KUTS convened a session on the 3rd of April after
which a meeting was also held with the Vice Chancellor of the University.
However, in a shocking move, the VC refused to press the Rangers to withdraw
their FIR, thereby proving that the University establishment is complicit
along with the provincial government and armed services personnel for the
abject state of Karachi University today. As part
of the response by concerned citizens and academicians, the 4th of
April was observed as a black day by FAPUASA, which is an all Pakistan federation of universities associations involving 21 public
sector universities. Continuing with the momentum, Saturday, the 5th
of April was also observed as a black day across all government universities
in Sindh in which protesting teachers throughout wore black armbands to their
classes. In
Solidarity International
Socialists Karachi Ends |
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International Socialists (