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Students Action Committee rejoice over release of their fellows
LAHORE, Dec, 12, 2007 : The Student Action Committee (SAC) members and other students ended
hunger strike and celebrated the release of their fellow students on
Tuesday.
Race Course police arrested 10 people last Thursday from outside
the house of sacked judge Shahid Siddiqi in GOR-I. The arrested included FAST
National University students Hassan and Amanullah. Rest of the eight people had
been released, but the two were presented before a court in Cantt Kutchery on
Monday. The court ordered to produce them before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC),
but they were released later on President Pervez Musharraf's orders to the
Punjab government to take back all cases.
The SAC had set up a hunger
strike camp outside the Lahore Press Club following the arrest of students.
Students from various colleges and universities, lawyers, human rights activists
and political activists participated in the closing ceremony of hunger strike
camp.
Students said they had won against the government. They said the
government had planned to indict the students under terrorism charges, but their
strong activism forced the government to release them.
An SAC member in
his speech said the students' movement was for the independence of the
judiciary, restoration of democracy and rule of law. He said the committee was
thankful to lawyers and human rights and political activists for their
solidarity with students. "The feudal lords, corrupt politicians and everyone
who looted the national exchequer should know that students have united against
them and they are committed to end the corrupt mafia," he said.
Lahore
High Court Bar Association vice president Ms Firdaus Butt said the release of
the protestors was a sign of defeat of dictatorial regime. "Students have to
further make sacrifices along with others striving for democracy and
independence of the judiciary."
SAC member Ms Sundas said, "The police
could do nothing for the last two days, as it remained deployed outside the
press club. Both male and female students continued their strike in spite of
chilly nights and rainy weather. The peaceful protest has forced the government
to release our fellows." Daily Times
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