The following e-mail came in via Omer from Asma Jahangir who is the Secretary General of HRCP (Human Rights Commission Pakistan):
The situation in the country is uncertain. There is a strong crackdown on the press and lawyers. Majority of the judges of the Supreme Court and four High Courts have not taken oath. The Chief Justice is under house arrest (unofficially). The President of the Supreme Court Bar (Aitzaz Ahsan) and 2 former presidents, Mr. Muneer Malik and Tariq Mahmood have been imprisoned for one month under the Preventive Detention laws. The resident of the Lahore High Court Mr. Ahsan Bhoon and former bar leader Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd have also been arrested. The police is looking or 6 other lawyers, including President of Peshawar and Karachi bar. The President of Lahore bar is also in hiding. There are other scores political leaders who have also been arrested. Yesterday I was house arrested for 90 days. I am sending my detention order (please click here):
Ironically the President (who has lost his marbles) said that he had to clamp down on the press and the judiciary to curb terrorism. Those he has arrested are progressive, secular minded people while the terrorists are offered negotiations and ceasefires. Lawyers and civil society will challenge the government and the scene is likely to get uglier.We want friends of Pakistan to urge the US administration to stop all support of the instable dictator, as his lust for power is bringing the country close to a worse form of civil strife. It is not time for the international community to insist on preventive measures, otherwise cleaning up the mess may take decades. There are already several hundred IDPs and the space for civil society has hopelessly shrunk.
We believe that Musharaf has to be taken out of the equation and a government of national reconciliation put in place. It must be backed by the military. Short of this there are no realistic solutions, although there are no guarantees that this may work.
Comments
24 responses to “Update @ 1445: Asma Jahangir e-mails her detention order”
Thanks for the updates. This from WSJ:
The emergency declaration in Pakistan could make cooperation with the U.S. more difficult, by distracting the army from its antiterrorism work, said Teresita Schaffer, a South Asia expert and former ambassador to Sri Lanka. She termed Mr. Musharraf’s move “embarrassing” for the administration. “Soon after we start sounding as if the democracy message affects Pakistan, this happens,” she said.
The emergency imposed by President Musharraf was the only option left with him due to unconstitutional attitude of Supreme Court Judges especially Ex.CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Ch. alongwith his likeminded colleague Judges was bent upon destroying the whole Administrative Set Up of Pakistan due to personal enmity with President Musharraf who filed Reference againt Ex.CJ on nepotism and corruption charges.It is irony that majority of Judges and lawyers in Pakistan are corrupt.Most lawyers in Pakistan are touts of Judges.The whole Judicial system in Pakistan, barring a few honest Judges And Lawyers,has rotten due to them.Ex.CJ ordered release of terrorists and religious extremists in order to creat problems for Musharraf
I would like to mention Ms Asma Jahangir a self made champion of HRCP.His husband and other relatives are frauds and cheaters.They have looted general public through listing of their companies namely Data Ago,Hala Spinning and Hala Enterprise etc.The balance statements of these companies will tell you the truth as they have shown tremendous losses.
Had there been no fuss created by Supreme Court,there would have been smooth transition to complete democracy in Pakistan as President Musharraf had commited in SC that he will leave the charge of Army Chief while taking oath as President.But due to our Ex.Vindictive CJ,the whole country remained in tension because of intended delay tactics by SC Judges.They were waiting for dissolution of Assemblies and then wanted to give decision against the President in order to creat anarchy in Pakistan.There is complete calm in amrkets,Bazaars and streets of Pakistan.People are happy on declaration of Emergency which will help in fight agaist terrorism and extremism which is limited to Tribal Areas and few neighbouring cities of NWFP(mostly terrorists belong to Pukhtoon Tribes.
Sheikhu, you’re a damned fool. Hala and the other companies were financed by the IFC. No local money was involved. Your criticism has nothing to do with anything.
Shieku has lost its marbles too.
These “progressives” in the judiciary and civil society have never helped the govt in the fight against terrorism. Rather the judiciary sets terrorists free while the civil society accuses the govt of “killing its own people”. The media is also very sympathetic to any lunatic with a gun and a beard.
The emergency is meant to remove these obstacles so that the govt and security forces can fight terrorism.
What kind of an idiot Supreme Court orders compensation for Jamia Hafsa after all the crimes they had committed? An Iftikhar Chaudhry SC.
The President announced that Election in Pakistan will be held before 15th Nov.,2008 as provided in the constitution and he will leave the post of Army Chief before taking charge as President for next term.There will be complete democratic set up in Pakistan.What else these so called champions of democracy wants.There is complete calm and relief among general public of Pakistan as there is absolutely no agitation anywhere in Pakistan except by lawyers and journalists which is a very small majority.The majority of lawyers are touts of Judges and corrupt.They don’t care about the interests of their clients and prefer to boycot the courts.They did not attend the courts for about two months during agitation when reference was filed against Ex.CJ Iftikhar Ch. by President on nepotism and corruption charges.They never bothered about their clients’ interests.Similaly the Media alongwith Ex.Supreme Court Judges were fully supporting Terrorists and Talbans for vested interests since they have formed alliance against the sitting Government and wanted to topple her.News TV channels loyal to Nawaz Sharif were openly insultig the President,Prime Minister,CM’s,and all Government functioneries.There was so much cruelity and bloodshed being shown every hour that the general public was depressed and mentally sick though only a few Terrorists in remote areas of NWFM Province especially in Tribal Areas were involved in these activities.All these Terrorists,Talban and Suicidal Bombers belong to Pukhtoon Tribes and Afghan Refugees settled in Pakistan.In the end I again confim the proprietership of the Companies namely Data Agro,Hala Enterprise,Hala Spinning belonging to Asma Jahangir’s Husband family and my statement may kindly be got verified from Karachi Stock Exchange.
The whole world knew that Pakistan is promoting terrorism but because of support of west it had not come under the scrutiny. But now their own nurtured terrorists are taking toll of Pakistanis. And now many Pakistanis are regretting who once upon a time were happy to see bloodshed in India. NWFP has already been converted into Talibanism and the whole nation is under the threat of civil war.
It seems Mr.Sheiku has very soft corner towards Mr. Musharraf. I would call him Mr. Musharraf because he is not elected by people and according to law he should be retired from the post of chief of army.After 60 years of independence it depends on the U.S. aids. No secure future of rural women. Many youth get caught in faulty madressas and after their brain washing they are made suicide bombers or terrorists. The religion fundamentalists are making their foothold strong.In this situation a rare ray of hope is also a distant thing. I appreciate even in these situations Ms. Asma is fighting for human rights.
Perhaps most of the Pakistan’s population has not felt the environment of freedom and independence. They have not tasted the power of secularity. It is unfortunate and sad but everything lies in the hands of Pakistan’s citizens whether they want to do slavery of the dictator or they want to embrace freedom.
In this context I thought it worthwhile to copy the mail and the message I had sent yesterday to THE DAWN. You may if you wish spread the message around
To,
Editor,
‘The DAWN’
Karachi,
Pakistan.
Dear Sir,
A storm is raging in Pakistan. We from India want to express our solidarity with the civil society that has raised its voice for Freedom and Democracy in that prosperous but parched ‘Land of Five Rivers’. Bravo, Pakistan!
In this context I cannot do better than quoting the immortal words of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan in response to the state of emergency declared in India in the seventies depriving its people of freedom and fundamental rights:
“Freedom became one of the beacon lights of my life and it has remained so ever since. Freedom with the passing of years transcended the mere freedom of my country and embraced freedom of man everywhere and from every sort of trammel – above all it meant freedom of the human personality, freedom of the mind, freedom of the spirit. This freedom has become a passion of my life and I shall not see it compromised for bread, for security, for prosperity, for the glory of the state or for anything else.
These thundering words of JP reverberated through out the length and breadth of the country leading to India’s second freedom.
These may be mere words. But if words are all that we have we should put our hopes in the resounding faith of Russian Rebel-Writer Alexander Solzhenetsyn: “It is infinitely difficult to begin when mere words must move a block of inert matter. But there is no other way if none of the material strength is on your side. And a shout in the mountains has been known to start an avalanche
We are gratified to note that ‘the shout in the mountains’ has commenced in Pakistan and students may take up its reverberations. To them we would like to exhort in the manner of one of India’s great patriots and a noble son, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: “Lift up to the skies like leaves before a storm
Hope you will spread this message. God’s Speed.
M.G.Devasahayam
(You may hit the google search engine to know about me)
Arrey Sheikhu, you’re missing the point: The companies were owned by Tahir Jehangir, Asma’s husband. But they were financed by the IFC, which is a lending arm of the World Bank. And, in any case, when the companies were ordered to be wound up, the liquidation of their assets took care of outstanding debts.
What I’m saying has nothing to do with the Musharraf/Chaudhray/Jehangir/Emergency – I can respectfully disagree with your opinion. It’s just that mentioning the Hala companies has nothing to do with anything and just shows how weak your comprehension of the situation is.
I admire Asma Jahangir for her brave attitude against the evils. I would like to join her in her mission. Pl let me know about my offer.
i would like to commend her on her work across pakistan… would like to help in any way…. please let me know.
i would like to comeend her on her work across pakistan, i want to help in any way possible .. pls let me know
i would like to help.. pls let me know
i wants to get email address to Muhtrma Aasima jahanger sahiba plz send me her id. by this id intekhab_karkh@yahoo.com
hi
this is Muhammad salman from Pakistan. I want to know asma jahanjig's e-mail id coz i want her help plz send me her e-mailid i will mail her my problem…
thanks
slam me student of karachi uni iwant to take interview of mam asma jahangir by e mial its v important 4 me bcoz iam doing research and my research topic is ''CASTE AND CLASS CREAT CONFLICTS IN PAK SOCIETY''I have only 10 questions plz send me her e-mail id hope u wl reply me
thanks
slam me student of karachi uni iwant to take interview of mam asma jahangir by e mial its v important 4 me bcoz iam doing research and my research topic is ”CASTE AND CLASS CREAT CONFLICTS IN PAK SOCIETY”I have only 10 questions plz send me her e-mail id hope u wl reply me
thanks
Madam
I am Shah jahan Tirmizi Ex Jonuir Officer in PAkistan Steel Mil KArachi. and i am a blind person so please your contact no and address so i meet you.
" Madam Mara Sath Both Na inshafi howi ha main aur iss duniya main khoi be mara madad gar nahi ha Allah aur Us ka Rasul ka bad ape say Mada ka talab gar hoo ape say millana chata hooo so please contact me my phone no 0301-2559281, 021-34716776
Bara-e-Meharbani ya mara email address rehan_shah12@hotmail.com ape mujha say contact kara.
best regards
Syed Shah Jhan Hussain Tirmizi
madam i am alia ali lanjwani working in national rural support program as socila organizer in district hyderabad sindh
there is a district program officer named shams sehto he he herass me for sex on my rejection he gave me notice close of contect personly he is a chain smooker, randi baz and drinker these kind of complains i sent to rpo ghulam mustafa jamro, genral manager agha ali jawad, ceo DR, rashid bajwa
i am requesting you please made enqury against him
and get report from ex staff, present staff,
but in alone because staff is wory about his job
i am requesting you kindly take my case and i am agreed to go suppereme cour to chief justice iftakhar muhammad chodry
i hope you will be help me and will punished to shams sehto according to law od islami jamhorya pakistan
thanks
madam main waheed baloch khuzdar say
Asalam-o-Alykum
Asma jhangier
Please contact me i wants to discuss about case.Please you send me your id.Then i 'll send you doccument of my case.Please contact me here is my address
danio_star@ymail.com
AOA,
Ms Asma Jehangir i want to just discuss my domestics problems and need your advsie plesae contact me through email. my email is mcpostg@yahoo.com. Thank you
assalam u alykum madam
me ek student hun mene inter pass kya hua he or nokri k lye mara mara phir raha hun madam muje koi job nahi mil rahi ap muje city ya high court me kisi bhi qisam ki job dilwaden boht pareshan hun ghar ki saari zumme dari mere upar hen walid sahib kafi zaeef hen or abi retir hony wale hun please madam meri help karen boht pareshan rehne ki waja se ab me bemaar bhi rehne laga hun madam muje apse boht umeed he ap meri madad zaroor kijiye ga…
Allah k siwa koi aasra nahi hai.. please madam help me please…
please muje reply kijiye meri email k through my email add is asomeflowers2011@hotmail.com
AoA
Ma'am International Crisis Group (your are also member of it) has published a recent report in which it recommends that its need of reforms in Pakistan's prison system.
As you know, ICG investigated that with out-dated laws and procedures, bad practices and poor oversight, the criminal justice system is characterised by long detentions without trial. As a result, prisons remain massively overcrowded, with nearly 33,000 more prisoners than the authorised capacity. The large majority of the total prison population – around 50,000 out of 78,000 – are remand prisoners awaiting or on trial.
Circumventing the justice system, the military has detained thousands of people, ostensibly suspected of terrorism but including thousands of political dissidents and others opposed to the military’s policies, especially in Balochistan,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Its methods include torture, collective justice and extrajudicial killings. By swelling public resentment, such practices are more likely to create terrorists than counter them. Instead of establishing parallel, unaccountable and illegal structures, countering militancy requires the reform of a dysfunctional criminal justice system. The separation of low-level offenders and suspects, particularly impressionable youth, from the criminal hardcore is particularly urgent.
In violation of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO), children continue to be arrested for petty offences and illegally detained for days and even months; in the absence of adequate facilities, their exposure to hardened criminals, including jihadis, makes them more likely to embrace crime,including militancy, after they are released than before they were imprisoned.
Yet, with jails overflowing, it is nearly impossible to isolate hardened criminals, including militants, from remand prisoners, juveniles and low-level or first-time offenders. Provincial governments are trying to reduce overcrowding by constructing more prisons and barracks. This strategy is not sustainable. The problem is not simply one of inadequate infrastructure. The prison population will continue to increase so
long as bail rights are rarely granted, and accused persons are seldom brought to court on their trial dates. Recent legislation under the current government that makes it easier to obtain bail is a step in the right direction, but only if consistently applied by the courts.
There is, however, an acute shortage of probation and parole officers and no systematic programs to rehabilitate released prisoners. In addition to improving police and judicial functioning, the national and provincial governments should invest in establishing an effective probation regime; creating alternatives to imprisonment for petty crimes, such as fines, community service, community confinement and mental health and drug treatment; and providing free legal aid to those who cannot afford it, including by fully resourcing public defenders’ offices. Strong action should also be taken against police and prison officials for often failing to get prisoners to court on their trial dates, or often only doing so after bribes have been paid.
And the conditions of Pakistan’s prisons should be examined in the context of a criminal justice system that protects the powerful, victimises politically and economically marginalised citizens and has a declining writ over large parts of the country. The Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Evidence Act and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) form the foundation of that system. All three codes are outdated. There are also numerous special laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997 and the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
My brother who was a student of an Islamic Madrisa was arrested in Musharraf Era without any eligation, but later on he was involved by our "well known" police in a very famous terrorism case. Interesting thing is that my brother was only 17 at that time and according to Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO)he should be granted bail immediately, but didn't got anything like that. And its too late now that he is 24 now. His case is still under trial in high court as lower court has given him life imprisonment on the basis of "traditional investigation" through the "traditional method" by our "traditional police". It took about 4.5 years in lower court and 2 years in high court and 6 months in illegal custody by the security agencies. Now tell me, from where I should ask to return these waisted years of my brother's life?? Which door I should knock for seeking justice?? I'm doing MBA, should I go for a suicide attack as I didn't found justice anywhere for my innocent brother…???