Exhibition On Rao Anwar’s Victims Forcibly Shut Down By ‘Military Officials’
Citizens have voiced strong concerns over the forcible shutting down of an installation on extrajudicial killings at the Karachi Bienelle 2019 by ‘military officials’.
Authorities shut down an installation titled ‘Killing Fields of Karachi’ by artist Adeela Suleman. The work was displayed at Karachi’s Frere Hall as part of the Karachi Biennale 2019.
Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir held a press conference to inform people of the forcible shutdown of the display.
Jibran Nasir stated during the press conference that the exhibition was meant to symbolise the violence in Karachi, particularly the 444 murders committed by former SSP Malir Rao Anwar.
Pillars had been installed at the venue to mark the deaths of those those who had been killed at the hands of the notorious police officer.
The activist also said that part of the exhibit was meant to show a video with Naqeebullah Mehsud’s father and the place where Naqeebullah was killed.
Naqeebullah was an aspiring model from South Waziristan who ran a shop in Karachi, and who was murdered in a fake police encounter led by Rao Anwar in 2018.
Jibran Nasir said that in the morning, some people who introduced themselves as members of sensitive organisations said that the venue should be closed, otherwise all materials such as laptops, projectors, and paintings would be destroyed.
In the 2nd annual #KarachiBiennale in which artists all over the world are participating today ISI official came and forcibly shutdown exhibition by artist #AdeelaSuleman on the 444 people killed by #RaoAnwar. Wonder why? Our Institutions are supposed to be our pride or disgrace? pic.twitter.com/f2AjCC20Pi
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 27, 2019
Artist Adeela Suleman said that two persons in civilian dress arrived at the exhibition venue in the morning and pressurised the Frere Hall Administration to stop the exhibition otherwise they would forcibly put a stop to it.
Adeela stated that her aim was to repeat an event that had taken a year back (Naqeebullah’s murder) and that she did not say anything that was not common knowledge.
Moreover, in a Twitter post, Jibran Nasir revealed that his press conference was ‘disrupted’ by unknown men who threw away the mics of media.
The video showed the man, who later introduced himself as director general Parks, asking Jibran to leave the venue and do whatever he wanted outside the venue.
The moment we mentioned that Intel Officers harassing us since morning are surrounding the Press Conference this man introducing himself as DG Parks barged in threw down mics of media, ripped a mic off my collar and tried to get physical. All for #RaoAnwar #RiyasatKaLaadla. pic.twitter.com/7HVpEpUHXl
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 27, 2019
Jibran later shared the video of the DG Parks admitting that the people who had shut down the exhibition in the morning were military officials from Corps V.
DG Parks after shutting down our press conference admits to Media that it wasn't Govt but Military officials from Core V who shutdown exhibition on #RaoAnwar in morning. Our defenders defending our killers. What a disgrace. We pay taxes to get hunted? #RaoAnwar #RiyasatKaLaadla. pic.twitter.com/3qx2Egq86d
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 27, 2019
After the activist initially shared the news of the forcible closure of the exhibition, journalist Mubashir Zaidi took to Twitter to share that ‘LEAs personnel’ had raided the Karachi Bienelle to stop and remove the exhibition, and that ‘trucks and men’ had descended all over Frere Hall.
LEAs personnel are raiding Karachi Biennale at Frere Hall at this time to stop & remove Adeela Suleman’s artistic production “Killing fields of Karachi”- story of 444 killings by Rao Anwar. Trucks & men have descended all over Frere Hall. The lower hall has been sealed
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) October 27, 2019
Journalist Omar Quraishi also stated on Twitter that LEAs had raided the exhibition and the venue had been shut down.
Law-enforcement agencies have raided the ongoing Karachi Biennale at Frere Hall & removed an installation titled “Killing fields of Karachi” by Indus Valley Professor Adeela Suleman – the venue has been shut down pic.twitter.com/jSh7Es65dG
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) October 27, 2019
Moreover, people took to social media to express their resentment over the incident. One Twitter user, while sharing the news, said that no amount of ‘flower pots’ could ‘beautify’ the ugliness of the city and state LEAs.
Today, LEAs personnel have raided Karachi Biennale at Frere Hall to stop & remove Adeela Suleman’s installation “Killing fields of Karachi”- story of 444 killings by #RaoAnwar.
No amount of ‘flower pots’ can ‘beautify’ the ugliness of the city and state LEAs. https://t.co/Qsap8Hu6I4
— Aimen (@AimenBucha) October 27, 2019
Referring to the incident, another user stated that the words ‘freedom of speech or expression’ had become a veneer used for our international propaganda.
karachi biennale was recently swooped on by LEAs crew to block adeela suleman from demonstrating her art about 444 extra judicial killings engineered by rao anwar. the term “freedom of speech or expression” has become only a veneer used for our international propaganda.
— zainab syed (@zaysyed) October 27, 2019
Academic Nida Kirmani shared the photos of Adeela Suleman’s installation, in what she said was an act of solidarity and resistance.
Sharing photos of Adeela Suleman’s installation, ‘Killing Fields of Karachi’, which draws attention to the 444 lives taken by Rao Anwar here as an act of solidarity and resistance. This was shut down by LEAs today at Frere Hall. pic.twitter.com/iE5hD4vhTb
— Nida Kirmani (@nidkirm) October 27, 2019
Lawyer Haider Imtiaz stated that this was ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ and that the purpose of Naya Pakistan was becoming clearer, which was to convert Pakistan into a police state run on fascist principles.
So brazen & blatantly unconstitutional. Purpose of 'Naya Pakistan' project becoming increasingly clear with each passing day: to convert Pakistan into a police state run on fascist principles, where hidden forces enjoy complete impunity while citizens' rights are trampled at will
— Haider Imtiaz (@mhaiderimtiaz) October 27, 2019
Another social media user pointed out how killings were not an issue, but their depiction through art was.
Artist adeela sulaiman's video installation on Killing Fields of Karachi sealed by security agencies. Killings aren't the issue, depiction is. pic.twitter.com/sdI5bnhZJS
— Nazish Brohi (@Nazish_Brohi) October 27, 2019
Meanwhile, Karachi DIG South has stated to media that police had been notified about the matter and they were investigating it.
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