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136 the country expressed the fear that the security situation made it difficult for
them to campaign by holding public meetings and rallies. Such fears were
expressed in particular in the insurgency-hit parts of Balochistan and the
militancy-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where political gatherings
were targeted in attacks during the year.
Freedom of assembly
Abuse of the right
A violent wave of protests took place in June in almost all cities of the
Punjab to protest against power shortages and unscheduled load-shedding.
The protesters would typically assemble at thoroughfares and proceed to attack
electricity supply companies’ offices. While scores were injured in the protests,
three protestors were killed as police tried to restore calm. In Khanewal, the
protesters torched factories owned by politicians, and torched vehicles and
offices of the local electricity supply company. In Chichawatni, two police
stations, electricity company offices, cars and motorcycles were set on fire.
The Kamalia-Chichawatni road was blocked for hours. The GT Road, a main
artery for the country, was blocked repeatedly and at many places. The
protesters even did not allow ambulances to pass through.
The most violent demonstrations of the year were held against a film by
an amateur US producer that was considered to have disparaged Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH). Masses of people took to the streets, burning American
flags, vandalising public and private property and fiercely attacking the police
resistance. In later September, when the government announced a ‘Love for
the Prophet’ day and asked the people to protest peacefully against the film, 19
people were killed, 12 in Karachi and seven in Peshawar, in violence amid the
demonstrations. Another 200 people were injured in different cities across the
country in clashes with police and at times with other protestors.
March saw a string of large gatherings in public places in Karachi against
a security forces operation in Lyari to end gang violence there. The protestors
attacked police cars and threw petrol bombs, while the police used baton
charge and tear gas to disperse the crowds. Many of the policemen and
protesters were injured.
In June men armed with sticks roamed the city of Rawalpindi to enforce
shutter down strike called by local traders against increasing power outages in
all major markets of the city. Although the police had assured the traders that
security would be provided, they were unsuccessful in stopping the men who
flocked the markets forcing shopkeepers to close for the day.
In May, a large number of people gathered in Karachi to demonstrate
against the notion of a separate ‘Mohajir province’. Police opened fire at the
rally, organised by Awam-i-Tehreek and Peoples Amn Committee, after which
protestors turned violent. The violence resulted in the death of 12 people and
injuries to 29 others.
Violent protests against increase in the price of CNG, suspension of its