PAKISTAN: A human rights activist faces terrorism charges for publicising the murder of Christians, while the mullahs who incited the violence remain free
To: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Islamabad
Name of the Victim: Mr. Tariq Mehmood, son of Mohammad Tufail Ansari. Resident of village Basti Danishmandan, Chak no. 264, G-B, district Toba Tek Singh, Punjab
Names of the perpetrators: 1. DSP, Toba Tek Singh district. 2. SHO, Toba Tek police station, Punjab 3. DPO, Toba Tek district, Punjab, Pakistan
I am writing to register my deep concern regarding the arrest of Tariq Mehmood, an activist working for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Labour Party of Pakistan, on charges of terrorism and disturbing the peace. The charges disproportionately refer to demonstrations he helped arrange after the burning murders of a number of Christians, and the burning of their houses by Muslim extremists. Police have not arrested those who incited the violence using the loudspeakers of mosques, which is illegal in Pakistan.
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