Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)’s Concern

ASK is deeply concerned on the incidents of mass arrest and detention throughout the country in the last couple of days.

According to different newspaper sources, from the last Saturday morning to Sunday morning, in twenty four hours, almost three thousand people have been arrested. Among the arrestees, 450 persons have been arrested only in the capital. However, the State Minister for Home Affairs and the higher authority of police stated that this was not a mass arrest; people have been arrested on specific allegations. Nevertheless, people have questions regarding the arrests of so many persons within such a short period of time. In the past, we have observed such precedents of mass arrest prior to any movement by the opposition parties.

We appreciate strict monitoring from the government in this regard, so that no innocent person is arrested or harassed and also expect that the government will be most careful in taking such step in future.