You can’t steal my smile, says musician Saif Samejo after detention at Sindh Rawadari March

The detainment of and treatment meted out to musician Saif Samejo during the Sindh Rawadari March outside the Karachi Press Club on Sunday sparked widespread outrage online. Videos of the arrest showed the police shoving and slapping The Sketches frontman and co-founder of the Lahooti Melo and ripping off his shirt. He was taken into custody for violating Section 144 — a ban on public gatherings — and later released.

Samejo participated in the rally, organised to protest the extrajudicial killing of Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar, who was accused of blasphemy, and condemn growing extremism in Sindh. South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza confirmed Samejo’s release.

The march included progressive voices from human rights defenders, trade unions, and feminist groups, all demanding accountability for Dr Kunbhar’s death in what Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar has acknowledged was a staged police encounter on September 19.

Senator Sherry Rehman has since apologised on behalf of the party on X, saying, “I have spoken on the phone from Islamabad to many who were mistreated, and apologised, and appreciate their understanding.”

In a video shared on Monday morning, Samejo said the protesters’ demands were clear — arrest those responsible for Kunbhar’s killing, ensure a transparent inquiry, and resist extremism’s encroachment in Sindh.

“They can’t steal my smile”

In the video shared on his social media pages, Samejo reflected on the police’s treatment of him and reaffirmed his commitment to the cause.

“I was not at all mentally prepared to make this video. But the love and concern from people across the globe have compelled me to speak. I’m doing well, I’m wearing my smile, and they can’t steal that. Extremism is rising, and I joined this march not for political gain, but for the betterment of society,” he said.

The musician criticised the police’s mishandling of the protest. “We were few, peaceful people, including families and young girls. Yet the police treated us violently. What shocked me most was how many officers recognised me — they knew me, they knew my work, yet still acted like this. Power may intoxicate, but it fades. Before you, others sat in those same seats of authority — where are they now? History forgets those who suppress truth and honourable voices.”

At the end of his video, Samejo demanded a society where peaceful protest is met with dialogue — not batons. “I have no political ideology. You [Bilawal Bhutto] are a champion, that’s what you call yourself, and talk about your party’s sacrifices, and talk about your mother, who is our mother too. I’m talking about Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. You should follow her legacy. I also want to tell my friends in the police to intervene in your departments instead of mishandling the innocent, the educated, the politically aware.”

In the post accompanying his video, Samejo wrote, “We gathered for a better society, a better Sindh, a better Pakistan — one free from hatred and suffocation. And we will march again and again. No one can take away this strength and smile.”

Artists and activists condemn police brutality

There was widespread condemnation as a video of Samejo being dragged through the streets with his clothes being visibly torn apart began circulating online.

Samejo’s wife, Sana Khoja, who’s been sharing comments of several artists condemning the incident to her Instagram account, also condemned the police’s reaction. “I have avoided social media for the past many years, choosing to stay away from its activism and everything it represents,” she wrote. “I believe in keeping my work separate from it. But today, I feel compelled to write this in condemnation of the brutal injustice that happened to my husband, Saif Samejo.”

She said Samejo has “always raised his voice, advocating for peace and justice”. “At the protest, he stood silently. When he saw the police mistreating women, the elderly, and citizens who deserve to be treated with dignity — he intervened. He asked them not to hit, even if they wanted to arrest people, they could do so, but without violence. His request was simple: respect and dignity, not force. In response to his peaceful words, the police brutally attacked him,” she wrote.

“This act of aggression against someone who stood for peace and non-violence is deeply disturbing. How could such a small, peaceful group be seen as a threat, enough to justify the harsh actions imposed by the police? It’s baffling and deeply troubling that a gathering of artists and thinkers, who were simply exercising their right to speak up, was met with such unnecessary aggression.”

She said Samejo is “not just anyone; he is the son of the soil — soil that is not ordinary but sacred — the soil of Sindh, a land of peace, Sufism, and Rawadari. You may try to silence his voice, but he will emerge stronger, and his music will resonate even more powerfully. His spirit is unbreakable, and he will continue to champion truth through his art.”

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr, an artist and activist, expressed his horror in a post: “Beyond horrified to see how Sindh Police treated peaceful protestors, including Saif Samejo and environmentalist Ahmed Shabbar. This kind of manhandling is shameful.”

RJ Anoushey Ashraf amplified Bhutto’s message on her Instagram stories, “When peaceful protesters asking for an end to extremism are treated like enemies of the state, it’s horrifying. These heroes are trying to keep Sindh accepting, tolerant, and peaceful.”

Veteran actor and singer Khaled Anam criticised the government for failing to protect one of Sindh’s cultural icons. “Does the Sindh government not realise who Saif Samejo is?” he asked. “He represents Sindh’s spirit, yet they humiliate him. I beg Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and others in power to stop this madness — this is not part of our culture.”

Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy also expressed her anger in an Instagram story, “The Sindh government, run by PPP, has lost its mind. We have every right to protest — especially when the protest concerns a man killed in a fake encounter. What happened to Saif Samejo is absolutely shameful.”

Architect Marvi Mazhar condemned the mistreatment, writing: “Saif Samejo has always promoted love through his art. Watching the police treat him like this is beyond heartbreaking. Shame on the government for silencing young voices in Sindh.”

Musician Shehzad Roy shared his relief over Samejo’s safe release but voiced his disappointment on Instagram, “I spoke to Saif, and thankfully, he’s safe. But watching that video was painful. What on earth is going on?”