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questionable at best. Things are worse elsewhere in Pakistan. It is hoped that
the official probes will look at that aspect as well. HRCP demanded that the
government announce adequate compensation for the families of the deceased
and provide the best medical care possible to the injured.” HRCP also called
upon the government to initiate criminal proceedings against the factory owners
and ensure in consultation with workers’ representative, safe working conditions
at the workplace as well as initiate effective monitoring of workplaces by
inspectors to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
September 14: HRCP released on Friday the observations of a fact-finding
team that had visited Muridke the previous month to investigate a police action
there on May 16 to disperse tenants protesting the arrest of four fellow workers
from Dera Saigol Farms earlier the same day. One person was shot and killed
during the incident, while a policeman who was injured had died a fortnight
later.
The fact-finding team made the following observations:
♦ About 50 tenants had assembled on GT Road in Muridke to protest
the arrest of four fellow villagers. The protesters did not carry any firearms.
♦ While negotiating with the protesters the police had reportedly said
that the four men arrested from Dera Saigol Farms would be released. It
appeared that the four men had been denied several due process rights in
custody.
♦ Later the police resorted to tear gas, batons and also fired live
ammunition to disperse the protesters. It appears that the police used excessive
and disproportionate force to disperse them. The use of live ammunition was
prima facie uncalled for. The protesters responded by pelting the police with
stones.
♦ During the mayhem, a cattle merchant, Muhammad Arif, stuck in the
traffic was shot and died on his way to the hospital. According to eyewitness
accounts of Muhammad Arif’s brothers in a statement under Section 164 of
the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), their brother was first beaten with batons
by cops and was then shot dead by a policeman. It appears that their statement
has not led to an investigation that such a serious charge warrants, nor has the
bullet that killed Arif been matched with the weapon used to establish the
identity of the person who pulled the trigger.
♦ A police assistant sub-inspector, Jan Muhammad, was reportedly hit
by a stone, was hospitalized, and died 13 days later.
♦ Several people who were not even present at the protest were arrested
subsequently and charged with murder. Seven women and their children were
also taken into custody when police raided Dera Saigol Farms.
♦ Despite deployment of a large police contingent which resorted to
force without much hesitation, no provision had been made to arrange
emergency medical support or ambulances.
♦ Even though no more than 50 protesters had gathered at GT Road,
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State of Human Rights in 2012