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Police disperses rally for Dr Aafia in Karachi
[Dawn] Police on Friday baton-charged and used water cannons to disperse a protest rally of Pasban that intended to march towards the US Consulate in Bloody Karachi...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... to raise the issue of detention of Dr  Aafia Siddiqui....American-educated Pak cognitive neuroscientist who was convicted of assault with intent to murder her U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan. In September 2010, she was sentenced to 86 years in jug after a three-ring trial. Siddiqui, using the alias Fahrem or Feriel Shahin, was one of six alleged al-Qaeda members who bought $19 million worth of blood diamonds in Liberia immediately prior to 9-11-01. Since her incarceration Paks have taken her to their heart and periodically erupt into demonstrations, while the government tries to find somebody to swap for her... About a dozen protest leaders including sister of the jugged Pak Dr Fouzia Siddiqui were tossed in the calaboose. Police applied baton-charge and lobbed teargas shells to the rally besides firing shots in air at Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar area. Police took into custody Pasban president Altaf Shakoor and Dr Siddiqui along with a dozen other Pasban activists for attempting to enter the "red zone" of the metropolis. Pasban had announced to besiege the US consulate in protest to highlight the plights of Dr Aafia, presently languishing in a US jail. The protestors had earlier gathered at Masjid-e-Khizra at 3.30pm, next to Sindh High Court, carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-US sentiments and chanting slogans against the government for dealing the matter with hands-off approach. A Pasban front man expressed strong resentment over arrest of their leaders and demanded of the police to immediately release them. He said their rally was completely peaceful. However, you can observe a lot just by watching... police deliberately developed a chaotic situation after opening gun sex and using water cannon. He said Pasban workers were extremely agitated on brutal use of force by the police, warning if the tossed in the calaboose leaders were not released the administration would be responsible for law and order situation. In a latest development, the tossed in the calaboose leaders, including Dr Fauzia, were released by the authorities.
Posted by: Fred 2012-02-11 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=338838 |