KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday suspended three police officers over the alleged mistreatment and detention of veteran activist Sheema Kermani along with other women’s rights campaigners outside the Karachi Press Club a day earlier.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when the activists gathered at the Karachi Press Club for a planned press conference, where they intended to demand a no-objection certificate (NOC) for their upcoming annual Aurat March in the city. During the gathering, they were briefly taken into custody by police.
The officers suspended in connection with the matter include DSP Saddar Nasir Afridi, SHO Hina Mughal, and Artillery Maidan SHO Nadeem Haider.
In a statement, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said an inquiry into the incident had been initiated. He underscored that there is a zero-tolerance policy against misuse of authority and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of women.
Following the incident, the detained Aurat March activists were released later the same day on the directives of the home minister.
Reacting after their release, Aurat March Karachi said in a post on X, “We will not back down from our politics, and we will continue to demand an NOC!”
The group further condemned the episode, terming it “scare tactics to suppress dissent,” and called on the provincial authorities to clarify the reasons for the detentions as well as the delay in issuing the NOC.