Graffiti: yes for pro-govt no for anti

Published November 13, 2007

FAISALABAD, Nov 12: The administration and police apparently have double standards when it comes to implementing the ban on wall chalking as all graffiti by the anti-government lawyers is being removed, while that welcoming Punjab chief minister, scheduled to visit the district on Tuesday (today), is very much there.

Intensive wall chalking by the ruling party to welcome Punjab chief minister could be witnessed in the entire district, particularly the city areas.

Walls of education institutions have been specially targeted to carry out pro-government wall chalking and painters were seen exercising their skill in different parts of the district, openly flouting the official ban without fearing arrest or harassment.

On the other hand, sources said, police arrested four Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists —- two each by Civil Lines and Factory Area police — for writing anti-emergency slogans on city walls. Cases were being instituted against the arrested students, Hamid Ali and Noman of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and Taha and Uzair, they added.

The district bar association had also carried out heavy wall chalking in different parts of the district against imposition of emergency and sacking of judges.

The sources said police high-ups constituted various teams to remove the anti-government graffiti in a midnight operation, with the directions to arrest those found involved in graffiti.

When asked about the discrimination, a police officer, requesting anonymity, said how one could defy orders by those in power.

City district nazim was not available for comments.

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