LAHORE: Following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice president Sher Afzal Marwat, the Lahore District Bar has implemented a ban on the entry of policemen at lower courts. This decision comes as a form of protest against the arrest of the PTI leader.
Rana Intezar, President of the Lahore District Bar, strongly condemned Sher Afzal Marwat’s arrest outside the Lahore High Court on Thursday. The bar’s action is a demonstration of solidarity with the arrested lawyer, and the ban on police entry will reportedly continue until Sher Afzal Marwat is released.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also joined in demanding the release of Sher Afzal Marwat. In a press statement, the SCBA condemned his arrest as a violation of human rights and expressed concerns about the incident. The SCBA called for a review of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law and demanded the immediate release of the PTI leader.
Sher Afzal Marwat, the senior vice president of PTI, was arrested as he was leaving the high court premises after attending a lawyers’ convention. The police reported that he was arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and taken to the Mazang police station.
FIA Takes Bold Step in Combatting Human Trafficking with Launch of Dedicated Hotline
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Pakistan has launched the country’s first Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Hotline, providing a platform for the public to register complaints against human trafficking. To report cases of human trafficking, individuals can call the hotline at 111-247-786.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and funded by the Australian High Commission, introduces a national referral mechanism and a Management Information System (MIS) to enhance services for victims of human trafficking.
During the launch ceremony, Director General FIA Mohsin Hassan Butt emphasized the significance of the National TIP Hotline project in the ongoing efforts to combat trafficking crimes. The Australian deputy high commissioner praised the collaborative efforts of FIA and ILO, considering the hotline as a groundbreaking step to address human trafficking comprehensively.
