Islamabad police arrested and assaulted veteran leftist politician and federal president of Women Democratic Front (WDF) Ismat Raza Shahjahan along with scores of people for protesting against Capital Development Authority (CDA) at the demolition of katchi abadis (informal settlements or slums) which rendered the poor residents homeless.
"Anti qabza operation" against the qabza mafia? NO. against the natives of this land, locals who have inhabited the "ICT" since centuries! stop lying to us! these villages are older than Pakistan, older than Islamabad. CDA must be held accountable! #StateBrutalityinIslamabad https://t.co/w97QJAQBKT
— pakeezah (@stonerchakka) April 29, 2023
Even though Ismat was released after a few hours, others arrested along with her remained in police custody without any charges filed against them by police in an official first information report (FIR).
According to reports, the Islamabad police apprehended nearly 50 protesters who were opposing the CDA’s eviction of slum dwellers near the federal capitals Sector D-12 area without registration of FIRs.
Ismat was reportedly arrested along with her husband Professor Shahjahan, who is also a senior Awami Workers Party (AWP) leader. However, Ismat has clarified that Professor Shahjahan was not arrested.
Last night was torturous for @IsmatShahjahan and others who were illegally arrested by the @ICT_Police courtesy of the evil @CDAthecapital. Both Ismat and her 65-year-old husband were beaten up with sticks. A lot of innocent people from a pind in D-12 were arrested.
— Women Democratic Front ناری جمھوری محاذ (@wdf_pk) April 29, 2023
While Ismat Raza Shahjahan was released later, the other protesters remained in police custody at Islamabad’s Golra Sharif Police Station.
please keep tweeting about @IsmatShahjahan's kachi bail and all the innocent people who are languishing in adiala jail on physical remand right now. use the hashtag #statebrutalityinislamabad!
— Zoya Rehman (@pind_wave) April 29, 2023
The Awami Workers Party (AWP), the Women Democratic Front (WDF), and members of civil society roundly condemned the Islamabad police’s high-handed arrest of political workers and protesters.
We are furious over the arrest of WDF federal president @IsmatShahjahan who was manhandled along with others, for peacefully protesting in support of katchi abadi residents of D12 who have been at the receiving end of violence inflicted by @CDAthecapital.
— Women Democratic Front ناری جمھوری محاذ (@wdf_pk) April 28, 2023
1)
We strongly condemn yesterday's brutal demolition and a subsequent police operation carried out by the Capital Development Authority in #Islamabad against the working class neighborhood in D-12. #StateBrutalityinIslamabad pic.twitter.com/uKB7DOHlJG— AWP Karachi (@AWPKarachi) April 29, 2023
Aurat March chapters strongly condemn #StateBrutalityInIslamabad, including the arrest of & violence against peaceful protestors in the capital city.
We demand the immediate release of all protestors, including @wdf_pk president @IsmatShahjahan, and…
1/2 pic.twitter.com/8hdbPGktLv— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) April 29, 2023
What possible justification could the state have for arresting @IsmatShahjahan ?! Arresting people for protesting the rights of kachi abadi residents… really? Is that where we’re at, especially in this economy? Thats the priority right now?! #statebrutalityinislamabad
— Maria Amir (@Beentherella) April 29, 2023
Angered to hear @IsmatShahjahan & other protestors were beaten up & arrested bc she questioned ICT police about a violent demolition of a katchi abadi in D12 despite SC stay orders against evictions without resettlement. Ismat & others must be released at once! @CDAthecapital
— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) April 28, 2023
Reports that @IsmatShahjahan has been arrested and is being detained for protesting the demolition of kachi abadis are deeply disturbing. The destruction of people's homes in these harsh times is the height of cruelty. The arrest of activists defending them is unconscionable.
— Arsalan Khan (@akkhan81) April 29, 2023
Absolutely sickened to hear about the arrest of @IsmatShahjahan, a committed political worker. Her only crime was to defend the homes and livelihoods of citizens living in katchi abadis. We have turned into a state of the land mafia, by the land mafia and for the land mafia. https://t.co/5Kd73VApBC
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) April 28, 2023
Please join @wdf_pk in raising your voice against these arrests, false charges and brutality with the hashtag: #StateBrutalityinIslamabad
— Karachi Bachao Tehreek (@StopEvictionKHI) April 29, 2023
🇵🇰: Last night, Islamabad police arrested and assaulted @IsmatShahjahan, leader of PI member @wdf_pk. We condemn the attack in the strongest terms. No amount of intimidation can arrest the struggle for dignity. https://t.co/MCVHa4lEJ5
— Progressive International (@ProgIntl) April 30, 2023
Later in the day, Women Democratic Forum tweeted that the police had lodged an FIR against Ismat Shahjahan and others on the charges of attempted murder.
An FIR has been lodged against @IsmatShahjahan & katchi abadi residents of D-12 who are still in police custody, who are being presented before the magistrate right now, under the preposterous offence of attempted murder. Shame on both @ICT_Police & @CDAthecapital for this farce. pic.twitter.com/KqSZ0ms3UH
— Women Democratic Front ناری جمھوری محاذ (@wdf_pk) April 29, 2023
The police also included other dubious charges, ranging from theft to mischief causing damage, against the arrested residents of the Sector D-12 katchi abadi.
On Sunday afternoon, Ismat tweeted a message thanking supporters and well-wishers for their solidarity, and gave an update on the legal proceedings that have been initiated against her and her family for protesting for the rights of underprivileged residents of Pakistan’s federal capital Islamabad.
#StateBrutalityInIslamabad pic.twitter.com/ZNNAqSQnqZ
— Ismat Raza Shahjahan ☭ (@IsmatShahjahan) April 30, 2023
Ismat wrote that she was suffering from “minor health issues” due to torture and manhandling at the Golra Sharif police station.
