The Pakistan Rangers’ raid at the residence of Mohammad Ali Shah, president of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and the country’s leading social movement, is condemnable and unacceptable, leaders of the Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP) said on Friday. “The government must understand that civil and political forces of the country will not tolerate the policy of intimidation and harassment of human rights activists,” AJP leaders Abrar Kazi, Wisho Mal, Hareef Chandio and Karam Wassan said in a statement.
The AJP leaders expressed solidarity with the members of the PFF and said the party considers the raid at Shah’s residence an assault on human rights activists and democratic forces. Demanding an investigation against the nominated Rangers officials, the AJP leaders said the party would be a part of the protest against the action and such timid acts cannot silence the voice of Sindh’s civil society. The AJP leaders also called upon on civil and political forces of the country to join hands to protest the action against Shah, who is being punished for his struggle for the rights of the oppressed and deprived fisherfolk.