Pak govt & Shabab-e-Milli are one: Asma Jahangir

"It is obvious now. The government and the Shabab-e-Milli are one. They are the one who backed the attacks on liberal citizens," she told Daily Times after getting released from Race Course Police Station on Saturday night.

"The government and police have stooped to the lowest level by shamelessly tearing off women's clothes and debasing them by baring them in public," said the women's rights activist.

"The police targeted my clothes. A lady police officer told me they had orders to be strict and to tear off the participant's clothes," said Jahangir, adding that she would lodge a complaint against the police officials who tore her clothes and hit her. "The HRCP will hold a meeting soon to plan our strategy." Others also condemned the "government high handedness and police brutality". "Is this democracy when women are physically beaten by the police for holding a peaceful mixed-run?" said Jugnoo Mohsin, a journalist and human rights activist. "The police also tried to arrest me. They let me go when they found out I'm a journalist."

Dr Mubahsir Hassan, Khawar Mumtaz, Shah Taj Qizilbash, Madeeha Gohar, Mahboob Ahmed Khan, Irfan Barakt, Farook Tariq and Joseph Francis also condemned "this face of enlightened moderation" and the physical and verbal abuse of women.

Farooq Haider Maudodi, the son of the Jamaat-e-Islami founder, participated present in the mixed-run with his wife and condemned the police brutality. The governing body of the Lahore Press Club, in a statement, also condemned the violation of human rights. The Commission for Peace and Human Development also condemned the arrest and detention of human rights activists.

The HRCP and JAC had arranged the mixed run to raise awareness of violence against women and promote "enlightened moderation". The city government had turned down their request to hold the run because of "negative police reporting" and had imposed Section 144.

Police arrest dozens to stop HRCP run: Police on Saturday arrested dozens of people who attempted to participate in a run organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

Police locked around 24 people into the HRCP office and later took them into custody. Asma Jahangir, HRCP chairperson, was also among the arrested.