State will never use force against its own citizens, Afridi tells Senate

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Interior Affairs Shehryar Afridi on Thursday made it loud and clear that the state will never use force against its own citizens.

“There will be no bullets, no use of sticks against fellow Pakistanis in ‘Naya Pakistan’. The state cannot even imagine use of force against its own citizens,” said the minister while addressing at the floor of the Senate.

Mr. Afridi recapitulate that those who took law in their hands during countrywide protests against the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Asia Bibi, will not go scot-free, the state will  make an example out of those, he continued.

The minister said that people belonging to some political parties had been involved in harassing citizens and damaging public and private property during the protests, which will be disclosed at the later stage.

The minister shared that the TLP disowned the rioters, when the government sat with the party and showed its leaders video clips of those who resorted to violence.

On November 2, talking to the newsmen outside the Parliament House, Shehryar Afridi said negotiations were underway with the outraged protesters for fraternal and peaceful solution of the current situation.

“Government was striving to meet a peaceful solution of continuing protests, adding that the sitting government was hopeful for a positive ‘breakthrough’ of the matter.

Asia Bibi Case

The country’s top court on Wednesday (October 31) set aside the conviction of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who was condemned to death for blasphemy. This verdict came on an appeal filed by the woman challenging her capital punishment awarded by Lahore High Court (LHC).

A mother of five, Asia Bibi had been on death row since 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI joined in international calls for her release.

Ms Asia was arrested after three women went to a local cleric in Sheikhupura, to report her and the trial court convicted and sentenced her to death.