Pakistan Govt crushes protest
NZPA-Reuter Peshawar Pakistan’s military Government has reacted firmly to the first challenge to its ban on public political meetins arresting about 50 people including 10 politicians and using tear-gas to break up a rally in Peshawar.
The target of the Government’s wrath was the Left of Centre National Democratic Party which called the rally yesterday to mourn the death of a former NorthWest Frontier, province governor and prominent N.D.P: figure, Arbab Sikapder.Khan .Khalil, Who ’was -killed in Peshawar by a gunman one week ago.'.
The N.D.P. blamed the killing on Right-wing religious fanatics. The N.D.P. went ahead with the rally despite a Government warning that holding the meeting in a central Peshawar square would violate a ban imposed in October, 1979, prohibiting all political gatherings and activities.
When it became clear yesterday that the N.D.P. intended ignoring the warning, the police placed a number of top officials under house arrest and raided a hotel where plans for the rally were being finalised. Eyewitnesses . said that about 600 people still managed to attend the rally which was dispersed when the police fired tear-gas.
A Government statement said seven people were arrested at the rally and 38 were taken into custody beforehand including a younger brother of the murdered former governor. In Pakistan’s largest city. Karachi, the president of the N.D.P., Sardar Mazzari. called an emergency meeting of other party officials tc consider further action. In a statement, Mr Mazzari condemned the Government action and demanded the immediate release of the arrested people. “The Government is afraid of the wrath of the people,” he said.
Before the Government’s tough action yesterday the N.D.P. had” planned a series of rallies oyer the'hext week in several cities to mourn the former governor.
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Press, 16 March 1982, Page 8
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292Pakistan Govt crushes protest Press, 16 March 1982, Page 8
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