Download PDF file - Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

gathered at about 10:30am at Guru Mandir near Business Recorder House and eyewitnesses
reported seeing some vehicles with armed young men.
After 1:00 pm, however, the situation took a more violent turn. There were reports of
an attack on an MQM rally led by Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Nazim Wasi Jaleel as it went past the
Patel Para area. It might be recalled that the Patel Para area has a large concentration of
ethnic Pashtun residents. The afternoon saw the Patel Para/Business Recorder Road area
become a free fire zone between rival political parties. Armed MQM activists were located at
the Guru Mandir end of Business Recorder Road while their rivals, presumably Pashtun, were
firing from the Lasbela Chowk end. The clashes led to one death 70 and injured more than 8,
including a 10 year-old boy 71 . Additionally, dozens of rickshaws were set on fire. 72 , 73
The firing in this area was filmed live by Aaj TV, which then itself came under attack
by armed MQM activists. The account of the attack on Aaj TV is detailed in section 3.6.
2.9 Paposhnagar
Sakhi Rehman, a resident of Pahar Ganj in North Nazimabad was a victim of coldblooded
murder near the Chandni Chowk area. At about 3 pm, 74 he along with his three
friends Sikander, Nawaz, and Rehmat Shah – employed at a hosiery factory in Metroville – left
work early, because they learned that the situation in the city was tense. Upon leaving, they
saw that there was no available transport to take them home. According to Sikandar, they
decided to walk and take a shortcut to their respective houses. When they reached the
Chandni Chowk Bridge and began to ascend it, they saw about 20-25 young men on the
bridge armed with TT pistols and Kalashnikovs. These young men interrogated them and
demanded to see their NICs. Only Rehmat Shah had his NIC. After explaining their
whereabouts and that they were not affiliated with any political party, they were let go.
HRCP
A few minutes later, however, they encountered another large group of young armed
men who also interrogated them. But this time, after making them wait about 15 minutes, they
handed Sakhi and his friends over to two other armed men, and ordered them to be taken
under the bridge by the tree. Once they got to that area, they saw two other people being
taken there. Many of these armed men were receiving instructions on their cell phones, and
their captors were told to take Sakhi and his friends to the ‘women’s park.’ Once there, they
were ordered to sit in a row with their heads bowed down. At this point, Sikandar and his
friends ran to save their lives, with the armed men shooting at them. Sikandar and Rahmat
Shah, running in different directions, managed to escape. 75
Nawaz and Sakhi Rehman (and another unknown hostage) were held in a house down
the road. There is no report of how they were taken to this house and whether it was
immediately after their attempt to escape. Here, “They shot us one by one at point blank
range. I looked into the eyes of my friend, Sakhi Rehman, as he was shot in the chest. I heard
his anguish, I saw his pain. I pray to God not to let anyone see what I’ve seen,” said a tearful
Nawaz. 76
70
Jang 13 May (i)
71
Ummat 14 May (c) and Express 14 May (a)
72
Jang 13 May (i)
73
Express 13 May (h)
74
Ummat 15 May: (d)
75
Daily Times 15 May (a)
76
Daily Times 15 May (a)
20