MQM-JSQM PEACEFUL PROTEST RALLY

MINUTE BY MINUTE LATEST REPORTS

KARACHI -- 16 APRIL 2001
DETAILS OF INHUMAN AND BARBARIC TORTURE UPON AFTAB AHMED SHEIKH
GRABBED BY THE THROAT, KICKED IN THE RIBS CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES AND DRAGGED ALONG THE STREET
Pakistan Time: 3.20 pm
Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, MQM Deputy Convenor, was subjected to most brutal and barbaric torture by the personnel of Police and other law enforcement agencies present at the venue of peaceful protest rally of MQM-JSQM.

Aftab Ahmed Sheikh and JSQM leaders injured, bleeding and thrown to the ground

According to details, the personnel of law enforcement agencies grabbed Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh Advocate by his throat, pushed him to the ground and kicked him in his abdomen and ribs. As a result, he suffered severe injuries in his ribs. After barbarically beating Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, the law enforcers grabbed hold of his legs and dragged him all along the streets towards the waiting police mobile.

HYDERABAD -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 2.20 pm
In Hyderabad, several hundred peaceful protestors are protesting in front of the Hyderabad Press Club. The successful and peaceful demonstrators are shouting slogans demanding water and rights for Sindh Province. At this very moment, Mr Zafar Rajput MPA, is addressing the huge crowd gathered to support the demand of MQM and JSQM to provide water for Sindh province.

View of peaceful protestors in Hyderabad

KARACHI -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 2.10 pm
Several participants of the peaceful demostration who reached the Governor House were targeted with heavy shelling and baton charge. At this very moment they are being brutally tortured and arrested.

Participants of the Rally being manhandled, tortured, kicked, humiliated and arrested

MQM DEPUTY CONVENOR AFTAB AHMED SHEIKH, JSQM LEADERS SHABBIR JAMALI AND SARWAT MEERANI BRUTALLY TORTURED, INJURED AND ARRESTED ALONG WITH JSQM LEADERS
Pakistan Time: 2.05 pm
The personnel of Police arrested Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, Deputy Convenor of MQM. Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh was brutally tortured at the time of arrest. He was hit with rifle butts, kicked in the abdomen, punched on the face and thrown into the police mobile no 216. The other participants who have been injured and arrested by the police including JSQM leaders Mr Shabbir Jamali and Mr Sarwat Meerani have been taken to the Artillery Maidan Police Station.

POLICE FIRE TEARGAS SHELLS AT THE PEACEFUL PROTESTORS IN KARACHI
SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING WOMEN AND ELDERS INJURED
Pakistan Time: 2 pm
In Karachi, peaceful demonstration against the water shortage and rights of Sindh province began from the Zaibun Nisa Street. More than 20,000 twenty thousand workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM have assembled to participate in the peaceful protest rally.

Trigger-happy Police personnel firing indiscriminate tear-gas shells
at the peaceful protestors

According to recent information, the police have resorted to violence and oppression to disperse the crowd. They have fired teargas shells at the peaceful protestors. Women and elderly participants are reported to have been seriously and severely injured as a result of indiscriminate shelling by the police and other law enforcement agencies.

View of the MQM-JSQM Peaceful Protest Rally in Karachi

SUKKUR -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1.50 pm
In Sukkur, at around 1.50 pm, the workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM organised a peaceful and successful protest demonstration in front of the National Press Club in Sukkur.

LARKANA -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1.50 pm
According to latest reports from Larkana, heavy contingents of Police and other law enforcement agencies moved in to disprese the crowd gathered to peacefully protest against the water shortage in Sindh Province. These protestors were brutally beaten, tortured, baton charged, kicked and humiliated. Numerous unlawful and illegal arrests have been made of peaceful protestors. We are awaiting the details of those arrested.

MIRPURKHAS -- 16 APRIL 2001
MQM-JSQM LEADERS AND PROTESTORS INCLUDING FAREED AHMED MPA AND ALI HASSAN CHANDIO TORTURED AND ARRESTED

MQM-JSQM Peaceful Protest Rally in Mirpurkhas
Fareed Ahmed MPA of MQM and Ali Hassan Chandio of JSQM
being inhumanly tortured and thrown into the police mobile

Pakistan Time: 1.46 pm
According to recent report from Mirpurkhas, the protestors gahtered in front of the Mirpurkhas Press Club and held a successful protest demonstration. They shouted slogans demanding water for Sindh. The Police force brutally tortured and baton charged the protestors. Several protestors including Mr Fareed Ahmed, MQM Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh and Mr Ali Hassan Chandio, Member of Central Executive Committee of JSQM and dozens of other regional leaders of MQM and JSQM have been arrested and detained.

Another view of MQM-JSQM Protest Rally in Mirpurkhas

HYDERABAD -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1.30 pm

Peaceful protestors in Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, protestors are getting prepared to take out a peaceful rally to demonstrate against the artificial water shortage.

LARKANA -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1 pm
In Larkana, one of the major cities of the Sindh province, the protest rally has began. Several hundred workers and supporters of JSQM and MQM are participating in these rallies. The participants include women and elders.

RATO-DERO -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1 pm
Similar to other cities of Sindh, the protest rally is also successful in Rato Dero. A huge rally has been taken out. The peaceful protestors have blocked the motorway near Rato Dero.

MORO -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1 pm
Protest demonstrations have also begun in Moro City.

QANBAR ALI KHAN -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1 pm
In unity with all the other major cities of Sindh Province, the people of Qanbar Ali Khan, supporting the protest rally call made by Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz and Muttahida Quami Movement, have come out on the streets to protest against the artificial water shortage in Sindh Province. They are demanding water and an end to the injustices against the province. Large number of women and elders are participating in the peaceful protests.

MIRPURKHAS -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 1 pm

MQM-JSQM Peaceful Protest Rally in Mirpurkhas

In Mirpurkhas, at around 1 pm, the peaceful demonstration began. A large number of MQM-JSQM workers and supporters accompanies by residents of Mirpurkhas have assembled at the Sabzi Mandi Chowk. They are vociferously demanding for water for Sindh Province. The peaceful procession led by regional leaders of MQM and JSQM is now moving towards the Mirpurkhas Press Club.

KARACHI -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 12 noon
According to latest reports from Karachi, heavy contingents of police and other law enforcement agencies are present on all the streets leading to the Governor House in Karachi. These police personnel are not allowing any vehicle to enter the area. Every passerby is being held, interrogated, searched and threatened.

SHEDADPUR -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 11.30 am
In Shedadpur, at around 11.30 am, more than 500 workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM assembled in front of the Shedadpur Press Club to peacefully protest against the artificial water shortage in Sindh Province. The protest rally commenced from the Press Club and ended at the Usman Ghani Chowk. The rally was led by the regional leader of Muttahida Quami Movement and Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz. The protest rally was attended by participants from Tando Adam, Shahpur Chakar, Sanghar and other neighbouring areas of Shedadpur.

NAWABSHAH -- 16 APRIL 2001
Pakistan Time: 11.15 am

MQM-JSQM peaceful protestors in Nawabshah being brutally and barbarically
tortured and arrested by the Police for demanding water

In Nawabshah, at around 11:15 am, the workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM assembled in front of the Nawabshah Press Club. These peaceful protestors were prevented from reaching the venue with the use of police force. The personnel of police and other law enforcement agencies resorted to violence and torture. The protestors were subjected to baton charge causing severe injuries. As a result of the brutal torture, several protestors are reported to have been bleeding.

Peaceful protest of MQM-JSQM in Nawabshah

The available names of those who arrested are: Mr Mujeeb, Caretaker Incharge of MQM Nawabshah Zone, Mr Shahid and Mr Iqbal, Members of Zonal Committee, Mr Rasheed Member of Muttahida Organising Committee, Mr Yaseen Charagh, Mr Waqar, Mr Murad, Mr Askari, Mr Zahid Rasheed, Mr Ishaq, Mr Naeem, Mr Ali Mardan Rajout etc.

According to latest reports, despite the arrest and torture of peaceful protestors, dozens of workers and supporters of MQM and JSQM are still proceeding towards the Nawabshah Press Club.