The infringement of the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, as witnessed in the police crackdown on protesters demanding justice for the extrajudicial killing of Dr. Shahnawaz, constitutes a clear abuse of legal authority. Article 16 of Pakistan's Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to assemble peacefully and without arms. Any attempt to curtail this right, particularly through the use of police force, represents a violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in our constitutional framework. The state's deployment of Section 144 to suppress lawful protests, in this context, undermines the very essence of democratic governance.
Dr. Shahnawaz's murder is not merely a private wrong but a crime against the state, as it involves a gross violation of the rule of law. The failure of the Sindh government to follow up on this case raises critical questions about the selective application of law enforcement. In a functioning legal system, the state should have taken immediate action against those responsible for the extrajudicial killing, as such acts fall under the ambit of criminal offenses against the public order. The silence of state authorities on this matter, juxtaposed with their readiness to invoke Section 144 to quell peaceful protests, exposes a disturbing double standard in law enforcement.
The right to protest peacefully is a hallmark of any democratic society, and the state's responsibility extends not only to upholding public order but also ensuring justice is served when the law is violated, particularly in cases involving extrajudicial actions. By stifling peaceful protests, the state is effectively preventing citizens from exercising their right to demand justice. Such actions erode public trust in the legal system and foster a culture of impunity, where perpetrators of violence can evade accountability.
In light of this, it becomes imperative that the struggle for justice continues, as citizens seek to hold the state accountable for its failure to prevent mob violence and its complicity in suppressing dissent. The demand for justice for Dr. Shahnawaz is not merely a call for retribution but a call for the restoration of the rule of law, a principle fundamental to the integrity of the legal system and democratic governance.
We reject religious extremism!
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