Karachi Police Crackdown on Fatimi Mourners: Terrorism Case Against 500 Participants

Karachi Police Crackdown on Fatimi Mourners: Terrorism Case Registered Against 500 Participants

Shiite News: Karachi Police have launched a fresh crackdown by registering a case under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act against participants of a peaceful procession taken out in Surjani Town on the occasion of Fatimiyya days. About eleven individuals have been named in the case, while 400 to 500 unidentified men and women have also been made accused.

FIR No. 1194/26 was registered at Surjani Town Police Station on November 13 on the complaint of the state, and includes several sections, including rioting, interference in government work, and the Loudspeaker Act. Police claim that the procession emerging from Imambargah Amir al-Mu’minin as, Sector 5-D, was not permitted by the Deputy Commissioner West.

However, the same FIR mentions neither any weapon, nor any injured person, nor any damage to property. Despite this, the law that was made for terrorists has been applied to men and women mourning the daughter of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Declaring peaceful mourning as terrorism is a grave excess, which raises serious questions about the conduct of the local police and district administration.

Mourners allege that FIRs against Fatimiyya assemblies and processions are being registered under pressure from Takfiri elements. They say that those spreading hatred roam freely, and on their complaints the constitutional right of worship of peaceful citizens is being criminalized. Mourners have demanded that the terrorism section be removed immediately and the case against all believing men and women be withdrawn.