Pakistani artist Abuzar Madhu arrested in Lahore for his long hair. Twitter reacts

Pakistani artist Abuzar Madhu was arrested in Lahore for his long hair, his friend, Twitter user Natasha Javed said as she shared the story in a lengthy thread.

Abuzar Madhu, an artist from Pakistan, was arrested by the Punjab Police in Lahore earlier in June and had to “spend a night” in Model Town police station in a lock-up. “Reason, his long hair,” his friend, Twitter user Natasha Javed said in a thread on the micro-blogging site. Abuzar is an artist & a teacher. He was waiting for a Rickshaw near Kalma Chawk when a police van stopped him. They asked for his ID card, which luckily he had. He showed the ID card. The police officer then asked others to put him in the police van ‘Ainu Gaddi wich Pao’ pic.twitter.com/6Wu9Odk5L6 Abuzar kept explaining that he is a teacher and an artist. However, The police harassment did not stop and they forced him to sit in the van and he was taken to the police station. He insisted that he wanted to teach Abuzar a lesson for his long hair & appearance. That a Night in jail would be good for him to know that he dare not look the way he chooses to. Abuzar reached out to friends through Facebook to seek legal support before his phone was taken. I am furious. This is how easy it is for someone to misuse their power to harass and bully a teacher, an artist, a law abiding citizen.Saifullah will likely face no consequences for misusing his position.Why are our institutions that are running from our taxes & meant Abuzar is out & safe now. I don’t know how many people face harassment from the police everyday. The fear that the police could’ve easily taken a step further & even further if they wanted - is real. And that we sit here accepting it all is making me more furious. Matlab now we can’t even grow out our hair in this country https://t.co/TOTwZY0PXr I’m disgusted. https://t.co/kLTOaBwDCA Some issues you cannot understand! https://t.co/ZTrvF7rS26 Meanwhile I called police to tell them about a mentally ill person trying to break into our house and harassing people in the street and they said it’s not our problem https://t.co/fxAIxqb1zC He came as a trainer to one of our trainings and what a guy he is. One of the most peaceful & unproblematic people i have ever met. What is wrong with our police???? https://t.co/gjKUzvgJog This is exactly the price common citizens pay for privilege of those who have power with no accountability #Highlycondemnable https://t.co/DqaeHgNpDz reminds me of the time when we got stopped at a picket (Daytime) and a batchmate with long locks had to face some hostile questions about his appearance https://t.co/D34EjIlLkr This hit me in the heart https://t.co/yMJcP6X70y god this scares me so much :/ https://t.co/qKmLHRx5hC I have been a student of his and Mark me he is the most nicest person I've met. No reason to be arrested and woah this is what misuse of power looks like. https://t.co/VhoHDtuzBk This is really messed up! Punjab police up to its usual antics of spreading malice and fear in society by not having any checks on the abuse of power within its rank and file. @OfficialDPRPP https://t.co/GzOpoYizJ4 “Abuzar is an artist and a teacher. He was waiting for a rickshaw near Kalma Chawk when a police van stopped him. They asked for his ID card, which luckily he had. He showed the ID card. The police officer then asked others to put him in the police van ‘Ainu Gaddi wich Pao,’” Natasha Javed said. After Abuzar asked the officer about the issue, he attributed it to his “hulia” or appearance, “lambay baal” or long hair, precisely. The officer told Abuzar that the arrest was made also because “he is out on the street at 3am.”