Dr. Riaz Ahmed arrested on fabricated charges
On 2 April 2017, the Karachi City Courts sent Karachi University professor and human rights defender, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, to the Karachi Central Prison on judicial remand for 14 days. The human rights defender was arrested on 1 April 2017 for the alleged possession of an unlicensed weapon. The incident occurred while he was on his way to a press conference to call for the release of an ailing colleague in police custody.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed is a human rights defender and professor at Karachi University’s Department of Chemistry. He advocates for a wide range of marginalised people, including victims of drone strikes, terrorist attacks, Pashtuns and Baloch facing human rights violations, and bloggers who have been arbitrarily detained. Dr. Riaz Ahmed frequently denounces the growing use of abductions as a way to instil fear and silence human rights defenders in Pakistan and is critical of violence in all forms, both state and otherwise. When human rights defenders, Ahmed Raza Naseer, Salman Haider, Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed and Samar Abbas disappeared in January 2016, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, along with other civil society members, campaigned for their release. He also campaigned in support of human rights defender, Abdul Wahid Baloch, who went missing from July to December 2016. In 2015, after Sabeen Mahmud was shot dead for hosting a talk on Balochistan, Dr. Riaz Ahmed held a public gathering on the issue at Karachi University and encouraged students and activists to openly share their analysis and experiences of the situation in Balochistan.
On 6 April 2017, a sessions court in Karachi granted bail to human rights defender, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, against a surety bond of Rs 50,000 (about 450 euro). He has been detained in Karachi Central Prison since his arrest on 1 April 2017 for the alleged possession of an unlicensed weapon.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed is a human rights defender and professor at Karachi University’s Department of Chemistry. He advocates for a wide range of marginalised people, including victims of drone strikes, terrorist attacks, Pashtuns and Baloch facing human rights violations, and bloggers who have been arbitrarily detained. Dr. Riaz Ahmed frequently denounces the growing use of abductions as a way to instill fear and silence human rights defenders in Pakistan and is critical of violence in all forms, both state and otherwise.
On 1 April 2017, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers before he was due to address a press conference at the Karachi Press Club. The purpose of the press conference was to protest against the illegal detention of Dr. Hasan Zafar Arif, an elderly retired professor who is in police custody and has been denied access to a lawyer and medical attention. A case was registered against Dr. Riaz Ahmed at the Artillery Maidan police station under Section 23 (1) A. of the Sindh Arms Act 2013 - that carries a penalty of up to 14 years prison - based on a complaint from a Rangers officer who claimed that he had found an unlicensed loaded pistol in Dr. Riaz Ahmed's car. On 3 April 2017, a group of human rights defenders filed a bail application for Dr. Riaz.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the sessions court’s decision to grant bail to Dr. Riaz Ahmed and calls on the Pakistani authorities to withdraw all charges held against him, as it believes they are in retaliation to his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
On 2 April 2017, the Karachi City Courts sent Karachi University professor and human rights defender, Dr. Riaz Ahmed, to the Karachi Central Prison on judicial remand for 14 days. The human rights defender was arrested on 1 April 2017 for the alleged possession of an unlicensed weapon. The incident occurred while he was on his way to a press conference to call for the release of an ailing colleague in police custody.
On 1 April 2017, Dr. Riaz Ahmed was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers before he was due to address a press conference at the Karachi Press Club. The purpose of the press conference was to protest against the illegal detention of Dr. Hasan Zafar Arif, an elderly retired professor who is in police custody and has been denied access to a lawyer and medical attention. A case was registered against Dr. Riaz Ahmed at the Artillery Maidan police station based on a complaint from a Rangers officer who claimed that he had found an unlicensed loaded Stoeger Cougar 8000F pistol in Dr. Riaz Ahmed's car. He was charged with “possessing an illegal weapon” under Section 23 (i) A of the Sindh Arms Act 2013 and was sent to the Karachi Central Prison on 2 April 2017. On 3 April 2017, a group of human rights defenders filed a bail application for Dr. Riaz Ahmed which will be heard by the Court on 5 April 2017.
This act of judicial harassment takes place within the context of a general crackdown on civil society in Pakistan. Human rights defenders in Pakistan face many threats including killing, arbitrary arrest, detention, abduction, kidnapping, threats and judicial harassment. They have endured considerable judicial persecution in the past year, often facing fabricated charges in reprisal for their work or statements.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by, and strongly condemns, the detention of and false charges against Dr. Riaz Ahmed, which it believes to be in retaliation to his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Pakistan to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Riaz Ahmed, as Front Line Defenders believes that he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Immediately drop all charges against Dr. Riaz Ahmed;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Pakistan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
