LAHORE: A worker of the Haqooq-i-Khalq Movement (HKM), Ahsan Bhatti, who was arrested by police three days back, has been released.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Saturday condemned the arrest and demanded his release, saying the police had picked up Bhatti but did not register a case.

“The HRCP condemns the arbitrary arrest of Haqooq-e-Khalq worker Ahsan Bhatti who was exercising his constitutional right to protest against spiraling inflation,” it said and demanded the Punjab government immediately cease its repressive tactics against all political workers.

The sources said police had arrested Bhatti as a PTI worker, saying he used to be an activist of Imran Khan’s party but recently joined the HKM.

HKM leader Ammar Ali Jan demanded release of his party worker, tweeting: ““Since yesterday, Punjab Police is illegally detaining Ahsan Bhatti and dozens of political activists from Lahore. No FIRs are being registered.”

However, later at night, Jan, in a tweet, shared a picture with Bhatti, saying that Bhatti had been released.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2023