Murder of Democracy': Sindhiyani Tehreek Slams PPP Government for Blocking Sheema Kermani's Press Conference
Chehra WebDesk
Sindhiyani Tehreek Slams PPP Govt Over 'Suppression of Dissent' After Activist Sheema Kermani Barred from KPC
HYDERABAD The Sindhiyani Tehreek, a prominent women's rights organization, has issued a scathing joint press statement, accusing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government of "murdering democracy" following the police's obstruction of feminist activist and artist Sheema Kermani's press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday.
Central President Umrah Samoon, along with Deputy General Secretary Bakhtawar Mallah and central leaders Maryam Unar and Marobat Halipoto, asserted that the Sindh government has effectively banned all public gatherings and press conferences in the province for anyone other than the PPP itself.
Accusations of Selective Law Enforcement
The leaders highlighted what they termed the PPP's use of "selective amendments" to turn provincial law into a "machine for suppressing dissenting voices."
> "Even the peaceful march of Sindhiyani Tehreek on March 16 was subjected to an FIR by the PPP government, while before and after that, despite Section 144, the PPP held several rallies and conventions, yet Article 144 is never applied to PPP’s own gatherings," the statement read.
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They further alleged that the Sindh Police is operating as an "armed wing of the PPP," applying laws only to the party's opponents while the ruling party considers itself "above all laws."
Condemnation of Judiciary's Silence
The statement also directed strong criticism towards the judiciary, questioning its silence in the face of what they described as "oppression and authoritarianism."
"The silence of the judiciary in the face of such oppression and authoritarianism is also a big question mark," the leaders stated. They warned that the constitutional benches and courts not issuing a single decision against the government reflects the "helplessness and incapacity of the judiciary," suggesting that the country is under the "worst form of martial law" by taking the judiciary hostage.
Comparing the current government's actions to past military dictatorships, the Sindhiyani Tehreek leaders said that by banning freedom of expression, the PPP government has proven itself to be "even more authoritarian and oppressive than Nazi Hitler" and other tyrants like General Ayub, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf.
The Sindhiyani Tehreek demanded an immediate end to the obstruction of peaceful protests and press conferences, stressing that the constitutional rights of freedom of expression, access to information, and public assembly must be guaranteed to all citizens.
