We, the people of Pakistan, progeny of the Great Nara (Sarasvati), Indus, Gandhara and Muslim Civilizations that predate all civilizations of the world; and a bastion of knowledge since antiquity; and those who have withstood all imperial adventures,
Having evolved a civilization founded on acceptance of higher values of civilized life, respect for others’ rights, culture of giving not taking, and imbibing an ideology of submission to God’s will, with the firmest of beliefs and faith in our abilities to discern the correct civilization path to a better tomorrow,
Disturbed and aghast at the policies being pursued by the oldest and nascent democracies; overtaken by the imperialist, expansionist and exploitative mindset; concerned that democracy is fast becoming the domain of the highest bidders; political-military and industrial complexes, financial cartels and believers of the doomsday scenarios,
Saddened at the gross violations of human rights defined in the Magna Carta, Bill of Rights of the American Founding Fathers and UN Resolutions, an infringement on the values of cultures, Faith in God that reflects separate standards and values; liberal for self and barbaric for others inherently leading to conflict,
Cognizant that silence is acceptance and complicity in the murder of the innocent; considering such militarized preemptions a violation by the governments on the largest suffering class of the poor in Pakistan, Afghanistan and all coalition countries fighting in Afghanistan. Spiritually disturbed, because all faiths propagate peace, forgiveness and a quest for truth; rightfully asserting that all those who resort to violence and murder of innocent blatantly violate the universal common values of humanity,
Desiring that political and religious leaders in all our nations lead the way to peace for humanity, to stand united as equals, to save mankind and our planet from extinction. Appealing to the international and national conscience to stand up and declare that ‘enough is enough’ because, civilizations, cultures and ideologies cannot be bombed out of the minds,
We, the Coalition of Conscience demand, that this, illegal, unjust, and inhuman war be stopped through the collective power of human resilience and conscience world over.
CHARTER OF DEMANDS
- The foreign presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan is part of problem rather than the solution; > The coalition Governments must immediately order a cessation of all military and sting operations in the region and allow peace to be negotiated.
- Al-Qaeda is a convenient tool to blanket all opposition to US policies in the region and impose unilateral policies; > All efforts to use this pretext to prolong the presence in the region and to pursue an international agenda other than peace must cease.
- On going coalition operations have a fragmenting effect on both Pakistan and Afghanistan; > All coalition operations with divisive effects must be stopped.
- The entire spectrum of violence and instability in Pakistan is a backwash from Afghanistan created by the presence of foreign forces. Support to insurgent and terrorist groups in FATA and Balochistan originate from Afghanistan. If this is not stopped, the instability will spread to other regions as well; > We demand the Government of Pakistan to make its own independent policies to ensure peace and development in the region; the mother of all civilizations.
- Afghan movement is led by leaders who are indigenous to Afghanistan and legitimate representatives of resistance to foreign occupation; > These leaders must be treated as party to peace and brought into a comprehensive dialogue process as reflected in Pak-Afghan Jirga of 2007.
- Failing a clear timetable from the coalition for the cessation of war; > The Government of Pakistan will be urged to exercise this nation’s legitimate right to secure its interests against all hostile bases inside Afghanistan, supporting and funding terrorism and insurgency in Pakistan.
- In order to ensure long term stability and prosperity in the region; > The Government of Pakistan must carry forward the inconclusive negotiations of 1996 and assist all Afghans (Resistance and Northern Alliance) to mediate peace. We welcome support from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and China with no covert agendas.
- It is not Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure logistics for coalition forces in Afghanistan knowing well that much of it is used to destabilize and terrorize Pakistanis; > This support must stop unless approved by UN and conducted under transparent international safeguards and inspections.
- Gross violations and exercise of human rights on selective bases are widely documented; > All Pakistani prisoners kept by coalition countries, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in illegal detention centers must be brought back immediately and subjected to Pakistani courts.
- Rendition centers, trials under duress and extra judicial killings including drones and blanket air strikes violate basic human rights; > War reparations and criminal trials of coalition leaders who have knowingly falsified evidence in support of war before their own people; their Parliaments; and before the UN Security Council must be brought before Law. All Pakistani leaders guilty of same must be tried under Pakistan laws.
These are the ten screams of conscience. Let them travel far and wide through the resonance of people’s will and be understood and acted upon with speed, honesty, and conviction. We wish a better and secure future for all nations of the world. The founder members of THE COALITION OF CONSCIENCE are:
- Pakistan Ex Servicemen Association
- Association of Former Ambassadors
- Christian Study Center, Rawalpindi Pakistan
- Omar Asghar Khan Foundation
- Society for Advancement of Health and Education (SAHEE)
- KBS Welfare
- Sindi Awam Sanghat
- Poverty Alliance
- Good Governance Forum
- Alternate Solutions Institute
- Pakistan Overseas League
- Defence of Human Rights
- And signatory Citizens
All Civil Society Organizations and Individuals world over are invited to join and raise their voice for the future of mankind.
Comments
11 responses to “The Coalition of Conscience – “Stop the War” – Charter of Demands”
One of the signatories of this CoD is Pakistan ex Servicemen Association. This is a group of retired high ranking military men. They are part of oppression, reign of terror, loot and usurpation during past military regimes. Since when did they become champions of democracy and human rights? Only after losing the powerful chairs!
Talking about fair elections and rule of law, were not they the same that distributed Rs.25 Lacs to Nawaz Sharif and Rs.50 lacs to Qazi Hussain Ahmed to “help win the election” in Election’88. Talking about rule of law, was not CJ Chowdhry Iftikhar Ahmed was made sit for 5 hours in President House and threatened for coercive action if he did not resign? Just how many generals resigned when innocent persons were being abducted and handed over to Pentagon for fat dollars? Now, that they stand powerless, it is high time for crocodile tears. War against terrorism started as far back as 2001, were not some of the ex servicemen sitting and fighting this war for Pakistan and dollars to the best of their brutality. Now that the army has changed its stance and stands for neutrality the chances of further viability of these retired military men have gone bleak, so now they are champions of democracy and human rights. Three cheers for them.
In all fairness, this CoD is tainted.
Who is daring in presenting such CoDs to civilian set up.
This is attack on bread and butter of generals and political leaders who are enjoying billion dollar deals through this afghan war and now killing of taliban is helping them to raise their bank balances and stature in front of US establishment.
All points of CoDs are just glimpses of common sense of any literate class of any society.
We as nation own no such common senses as we are capable of using our special senses which only restrict to our personal interests.
We are and shall always be American stooges and collaborators.
Do you know what happens to collaborators?
I am not so worried if our enemies consider us enemies and colloborators. I am worried that God may consider us such.
In that case we will most likely pay much more than what we have dished out.
Khalid
army and senior army men cant change their stance as escalation of military operations and two year extensions of COAS is self explanatory to all who claim that army is changing its stance.
These top military men are doing social work for passing good free time or creating NGOs for getting some cheese cakes from US donations .They even have no courage to give technical evaluation of Swat and Fata operation, attack on military places and officers which is their specialty as an army officer.
They even never bothered to speak why senior army officers were killed in Islamabad , the city where strong and largest network of ISI has been established in last 15 years.
They all know how roughly our miltiary operations are proceedings in our state in which more groups of criminals and terrorists are joining hands to fight against army men who are first time penetrating in tribal belts.
It is not 1971 era when mehmood ur Rehman commission report was removed from scene but sooner public would know that few from top miltiary brass had allowed this coarse and harsh operation from civilian point of views, just for their personal benefits.
Pakistan army accused of extrajudicial killings in Swat
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-106675…
These tribes know the mental level of our army officers who all time joined hands with these groups for goods and arms smuggling before 911.
Our FC, Border forces have high repute of facilitating cross border smuggling in the same area where now they are fighting in search of terrorists.
Our illegal army of jihadis got arms through theses tribes by consent of GHQ and Indian most wanted terrorists were always provided safe heavens in these areas where now army is in action and our son of soils are becoming targets of these tribal men who were once escorted by same men.
Khalid Humayun,
Agar suboh ka bhatka huwa shaam ko ghar aa jaaye to?
The human spirit is extraordinary. Take a look within your own self. Have you never committed a deed of which you have felt ashamed? It may be that these retired gentlemen feel ashamed of their past misdeeds and genuinely wish to make amends. Let Allah judge them and let us tone down our sarcastic comments a bit.
A general invitation: I am tied down in a seemingly futile discussion with an Indian Jew – he thinks I should be shot! – at my most recent blog post. I would welcome a constructive contribution from Teeth Maestro's knowledgeable contributors (no abusive comments, please).
Mr. Sakib Ahmad: In spite of my efforts I could not find the blog where to you have given a general invitation.
Khalid Humayun Sahib,
Just by clicking on my name you would have got to my blog. Alternatively, please click on the link below:
http://sakibahmad.blogspot.com/2010/07/terrorisin…
Hey, I aint tayyab mahmood… whats going on?
Mr. Mahmood, your email will not be published but it will be randomly sent to some dude halfway across cyberspace.
I suggest not using your main email until this bug is fixed..
Since Bush left the Neo-cons have left with him from US establishments. They are replaced by Obama and War-Hawks like Zbigniew Brzezinski. You shold read his book "THE GRAND CHESSBOARD – American Primacy And It's Geostrategic Imperatives," Zbigniew Brzezinski, Basic Books, 1997.
Check out the video by US journalist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0HjVMSBai0&fe… or read his article http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/zbig.ht… .
I don't know why almost all of the local media and blogs fail to see beyond the facade of some people conducting illegal warfare in the name of Islam and real enemies the US policy makers like Hillary Clniton & Zbigniew Brzezinski who endorsed Obama. As a nation we are afraid of what America might do if we expose their filthy policies. Unless we grow backbones our fellow Pakistanis will be killed in same manner and we can do all the talks shows and blog posts we like but it won't solve this mess.
We have been thrown in the river of no return by the previous military regime. Now that we are in up to our necks, there is no way out but to face the demon and kill them – man! it is now do or die. This is not conventional war, it is war against terrorism, a war that has no border, no face – just a blind game. USA is supplying dollars and war equipments so that perpetrators remain confined horns locked locally and do not think infiltrating western zone of the world, so far so good. Even if they were aloof and bystanders, we would have to fight it out on our own. In this war, there is no truce, no negotiation. Let us be realistic.
Humayun,
I agree, the nation must kill the terrorist Altaf Hussain, Imran Farooq and Saleem Shahzaad, whereever they are.
You take the first step and others will follow you.
They have been terrorizing Karachi for so long now.