Kashmir: How Sushma Swaraj’s ‘over reaction’ fed Pak propaganda machine

Kashmir: How Sushma Swaraj’s ‘over reaction’ fed Pak propaganda machine

London: Whoever in Islamabad - the army, the ISI, or the government - is orchestrating the planned "Kashmir Million March" in London this Sunday must be doing high-fives even before a single man, woman or child has moved one step forward. India's self-publicised over-the-top reaction, with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj personally intervening to have it stopped, has meant that an event that may have gone largely unnoticed - if not wrecked by rival Pakistani-Kashmiri groups - has grabbed the kind of media attention its organisers may have only dreamt of.

Few outside Britain's rather shadowy Pakistani-Kashmiri bubble had heard of it before Ms Swaraj offered it the oxygen of publicity by raising the issue with British ministers during her talks here last week - only to be reminded politely that “people in the UK have the right of expression and right to protest"; and that the government cannot intervene so long as “protesters don't break the boundary of law".

The matter should have been dropped there. Instead, the Foreign Office in Delhi amplified it further with its official spokesman stating that India had protested to the British government and urged it to stop "those instigating and organising anti-India rallies in London and other parts of UK." And then Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah weighed in—daring organisers of the march to hold such an event in Kashmir rather than 'cosy' London.

"I have no problem in these people propounding an ideology, but it would be better doing it from here rather than cozy environs of London, Washington, Paris and places like that," he said though he didn’t quite make clear how he visualised Pakistanis holding a rally in Srinagar.

A high-profile retired Indian diplomat, KC Singh, looked slightly foolish when he suggested that Britain follow the example of UAE which barred Pakistanis from holding protests outside the Indian embassy after the Babri Masjid demolition. Even the critics of the rally thought that asking Britain to emulate what one Pakistani commentator described as a “police state” was a stretch.

In their zeal to look "tough" on Pakistan, Indian foreign policy experts forgot or deliberately overlooked the fact that Britain has a long tradition of freedom of expression. A respect for freedom of speech is among the few things that Brits still cherish. Even Tony Blair couldn't stop one million people from marching through the streets of London against his invasion of Iraq.

Whoever advised Ms Swaraj needs a crash course in the golden rule that sometimes silence is more effective than a swaggering protest. Especially when dealing with a tricky neighbour who does propaganda so well. Pakistan's India diplomacy relies heavily on provocation hoping that New Delhi would fall for it (as it often does) yielding further grist to its propaganda mill.

Not surprisingly, the march's organisers and the Pakistani media have seized on India’s heavy-duty reaction to claim that India is running scared. The British government’s rejection of Indian protest is being portrayed as a snub for Delhi.

“Barrister” Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, former prime minister of PoK 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' in Pak lingo) and local organiser of the march, told his supporters that the Indian government was 'afraid' and making efforts to have it cancelled, but it had been 'snubbed' by the British government. He said the march, which would start at Trafalgar Square and end at 10, Downing Street—a distance of barely a kilometre—was intended to 'remind the international community of its decades old pledge to hold a plebiscite in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, now a nuclear flashpoint in South Asia'.

"Kashmiris must be allowed to decide their own fate. I have held meetings not only with Kashmiri community leaders in the United Kingdom, but also with British Members of Parliament who have assured me of their support for securing fundamental rights for Kashmiri people," he claimed.

Shabir Choudhry of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir National Independent Alliance (JKNIA), which claims to represent Kashmiri nationalist parties in Britain, said that thanks to the Indian “over-reaction” the march had acquired more importance than it deserved.

"India has harmed its own cause. It has given the impression that it is disturbed and this will embolden Pakistan," he said adding that the Indian response was being interpreted as a sign of weakness.

It might be billed as a 'historic million march' to evoke memories of the 2003 million-strong Stop the War march against Iraq invasion, but in fact it is said to be struggling to attract marchers. People are being reportedly offered complimentary meals and a free ride to London to take part in it.

According to critics it is rather a dodgy project and its UK organisers are simply 'proxies' for their 'puppet masters' back in Pakistan-- the ISI and the army who want to send out a message to the Modi government that they are not going to let go of the Kashmir issue. They see the march as the start of a new phase of Pakistan's campaign to put pressure on India.

Britain's Pakistani-Kashmiri is deeply divided. The march has been called by pro-government elements and is being opposed by those-- such as JKNIA-- campaigning for independence from both India and Pakistan.

Choudhry, who broke away from JKLF to form JKNIA, told Firstpost that the march was "against the national interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir State, and against their struggle to unite the divided homeland". It was being sponsored by 'pro-establishment elements' who wanted to keep “the Kashmir pot boiling".

"Those (Pakistan) who occupy us first started a proxy war and proxy politics, in which ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered; and now proxy protests are being encouraged to score points against each other. In my opinion it will send a wrong message because the Million March is designed to focus attention on the parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by India while ignoring Pakistani occupation. We want to tell both governments to resolve the Kashmir dispute peacefully. Violence, terrorism and use of gun is not way forward," he said.

His group plans to hold protests outside both Indian and Pakistani missions in London.

Meanwhile, a joke going round is that the march derives its name not from the number of people it is expected to attract, but from the fact that one million pounds have been allocated for it!

http://www.firstpost.com/world/kashmir-how-sushma-swarajs-over-reaction-fed-pak-propaganda-machine-1771949.html

London million march is a proxy activity of pro Pakistani leaders, Javed Inayat

London million march is a proxy activity of pro Pakistani leaders, Javed Inayat

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Leaders of Pakistani occupied Kashmir (POK) region will go extra miles by offering their services to Pakistani state establishment against Indian state. Politicians of POK region have to prove some time by pitting against each other who is more loyal to Pakistani state establishment. Pro Pakistani politicians have to behave like obedience slaves by ridiculing themselves in front of their masses.

London march has been arranged by a leader of ruling Pakistan peoples party branch of POK region, Chaudry Sultan Mehmood. The very same party and its leaders have neither been demanded basic rights for their own people who they claim to represent nor independence for the region they belong to.

These leaders have been demanding independence for Indian occupied Kashmir valley, even though, POK region has been practically ruled by an army major from Pakistan. Is it not ridiculous for a politician who himself have been dictated by low ranking army officers while so called PM of POK region once and claiming to liberate Kashmir valley from Indian clutches.

Our so called political leaders have lost their minds and making fun of our local population by liberating other side of Kashmir while living here on this funny region is being called '' AZAD KASHMIR'' or free Kashmir which is everything but not free. I would like to suggest that these politicians must stop ridiculing 4.5 million population of POK region which has been given only two choices starve to death or leave the region by their Islamabad based masters.

POK leaders have badly failed defend basic citizenship rights of local population of the region. Their own citizens pay bribery to Punjabi lent officers to get peon's job on their own soil. Instead of becoming proxies of Pakistani army establishment against India state they should have been taking steps to defend rights of local population. If they want independence of JK people charity always begins from home, liberate this region first from Pakistani illegal occupation before conquering Srinagar. This kind of futile exercise neither benefits Kashmir valley nor damages Indian occupation but does ridicule these leaders.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenationalist/

Tribal Invasion observed as a Black Day in Srinagar

Tribal Invasion observed as a Black Day in Srinagar

JKYDF Observes 'Black Day' to Mark Tribal Invasion   22 Oct 2014

Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir Youth Development Forum (JKYDF) a non-political forum represented by people from different walks of life observed  a 'black day' today to mark the 67th anniversary of tribal invasion  of the Kashmir Valley by Pakistan army backed tribals in 22 October  1947. the day Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir along the tribesmen, was one of the blackest day in the history of Kashmir.

"During the past, separatists used to force Kashmiris to observe Black Day on October 27 which coincides with the arrival of Indian army in Kashmir Valley.

"People were led to believe that their problems started after October 22, 1947, and Pakistan provided funds and support to all anti-national groups who observe Black Day on October 27," Pakistan lost the war against Jammu and Kashmir because it did not want the Muslim majority state of Jammu and Kashmir to become part of India while the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted accession with a secular India. Pakistan was also worried about the secular credentials of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a whole and wanted to disrupt the secular harmony so that the two nation theory becomes successful.

Jammu and Kashmir state is the crown of India and a mosaic of plural identities living in a spirit of peace and brotherhood. 22 October is a call to all peace loving citizens to rise and defeat the communal game of Pakistan, said  Farooq Ganderbali chairman JKYDF.

Advocate Ghulam Nabi  said that 22 Oct 1947 is the day of invasion of Jammu and Kashmir. To call it tribal raid is a misnomer. Tribals were used by Pakistani Army as the frontal hordes to hide the nature of regular invasion of Jammu and Kashmir state. The day is the Blackest Day because this invasion broke up the state and rendered thousands and lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs as refugees in their own state. Thousands were killed and abducted during the invasion. We have to remember all those who perished during the invasion. We have also to remember that Pakistan broke up the state and captured almost half of it. The people in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are denied all rights of freedom and during these years we have only seen a sham democracy on that side and also the colonization by the Pakistani citizens.
This day reminds us of the challenges to the peace, harmony unity and integrity of the state.

22 Oct 1947 was also the beginning of asymmetric war against India. This asymmetric war is continuing till now and devising a befitting response to put an end to this war is a challenge before India and particularly the people of Jammu and Kashmir state.

Er Gh Hassan , Chairman HKMCC for taking an initiative which is the need of the hour in these trying circumstances in the state. He said that by observing BLACK DAY on Oct 22, we will pay homage to lakhs of people killed, maimed and looted in 1947 by the invaders. innocent women who were robed, raped, kidnapped, and killed by the raiders in Pakistan occupied Kashmir Er Gh Hassan Said "During the past, Pakistan agencies used to force and money for Kashmiris through separatists to observe Black Day on October 27 which coincides with the arrival of Indian army in Srinagar.

The speakers during the seminar highlighter how Tribal militia unleashed reign of terror and unprovoked aggression against people of Jammu and Kashmir violated state’s sovereignty, A number of prominent speakers including Advocate Rouf Riyaz , Advocate Bashir Ahmad , Dr Bilal Ahmad Dar, General Secretary JKYDF Omer Bhat , Er Gh Hassan Chairman HKMC, Advocate G.N.Wani former Secretary state Human Rights, Trade Leader Ghulam Hassan Rather , Journalist Ajaz Ahmad , Social activist , Mohd Yousf Sheikh, Jatinder Singh Sikh leader  and Social Activist Adv. Bilal Ahmad Bhat spoke on the occasion.

A worthwhile state? By Dr Niaz Murtaza

A worthwhile state? By Dr Niaz Murtaza

HAS Pakistan been worth it? In other words, has it yielded the benefits that Pakistan movement leaders expected from their long struggle? This inquiry could be interpreted as questioning the validity of Pakistani ideology, which incidentally is discouraged in Pakistan.

I have no such intentions, especially since questioning it is a theoretical exercise today. Further, many Pakistanis still lack the confidence to deliberate that question dispassionately, even theoretically. So, I take the pursuit of independence as a given and analyse whether its success has satisfied initial expectations and if not, how future prospects are.

Globally, one sees two conflicting trends. Some countries pursue politico-economic union to enhance their development status while some sub-national regions pursue separation to enhance it. Where developmentally similar countries unite, they could benefit from the larger market and economies of scale created. Conversely, backward and neglected but potentially viable economically sub-regions could develop faster given the proximate government control over policy and resources that independence provides.

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Poor governance has limited the potential we inherited.

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Contemporary Pakistan was arguably among India’s most backward regions in terms of education and industry. But it possessed potential industrial viability given its sea access, large population, fertile agriculture and a small but well-educated class.

So, rather than basing my inquiry on the claim that Indian Hindus and Muslims constituted distinct civilisations, I base it on the ‘backward sub-region’ thesis to analyse whether separation has helped Pakistan develop faster economically and politically.

Economically, Pakistan’s higher (than India’s) economic growth rates and per capita income for around 50 years and its lower poverty rates even today suggest that it did derive an ‘independence dividend’ initially.

One can question however, whether economic progress was equitable. Clearly, elite landlords, generals, businesspersons, bureaucrats and mullahs have prospered from independence. What about the masses? While the lower poverty rates show the masses have also benefited to some extent income-wise, Pakistan’s poorer health and education indicators mean that such benefits have not been broad-based.

The second caveat has to do with the quality of economic progress, for Pakistan has been less successful in establishing high-tech industries than India. Pakistan’s higher growth has often been fuelled by undependable US aid and Gulf remittances. While independence enhanced such external flows, they were not utilised to foster sustainable development. Essentially, while independence provided some economic dividends, poor governance reduced their extent and spread.

Now to the question of whether Pakistan has done better politically. Unlike India’s consistent commitment to democracy, Pakistan has vacillated between democracy and dictatorship. Leaders, elected or non-elected, have been far less responsive to people. Ethnic tensions have been higher. In recent decades, the scourge of extremism has furthered political instability. This poorer political performance has undermined economic progress too, and Pakistan’s growth rates and per capita incomes have now fallen behind India’s.

Why has Pakistan’s political progress been poorer? It is often attributed to bad luck or the machinations of a tiny elite class, whose removal by hook or by crook or coup is expected to yield immediate, large improvements in governance. The reality is more complex. The quality of governance is as fundamentally linked to structural societal characteristics, as economic progress is to availability of natural, technological and human resources. Thus, improving governance is not about disqualifying certain individuals or families but about overcoming these structural barriers, which takes time.

Other breakaway countries (eg Bangla­desh, Eritrea, South Sudan) too have failed to obtain the immediate, large or consistent economic dividends expected from independence due to similar political constraints. These experiences suggest the need for modifying the “backward sub-region thesis”. Both economic and political viability must be analysed to better predict the post-independence prospects of breakaway sub-regions.

Such analysis may not deter determined secessionists. Their goals derive less from cold economic calculations and more from ideological or identity factors (Pakistan) or extended maltreatment which makes cohabitation unimaginable (Bangladesh).

However, such analysis may help in providing more realistic post-independence expectations. Thus, where economic viability but also political constraints are high, the expected economic dividends may only materialise once the political constraints are overcome. In Pakistan’s case, these political constraints are reducing gradually and there is some likelihood that more equitable and durable economic progress may result as governance improves.

The writer is a political and development economist.

murtazaniaz@yahoo.com

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2014

Appeal for the release of Baba Jan and others

Appeal for the release of Baba Jan and others
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-026-2014

17 October 2014
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RE: AHRC-UAC-070-2012: PAKISTAN: Human rights defenders were tortured during jail custody in Gilgit-Baltistan; AHRC-UAC-149-2011: PAKISTAN: The law minister of Gilgit-Baltistan produces fake FIR to still the protests against the killing of a father and son by police
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PAKISTAN: Release with immediate effect, Baba Jan and other eleven human rights defenders, sentenced for life imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court

ISSUES: Human rights defenders; illegal trial; justice system; torture; illegal detention
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that 12 human rights defenders including Baba Jan, a prominent human rights defender, have been sentenced to imprisonment for life, by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). They have been so sentenced for raising their voice and holding a protest against not providing compensation rightly due to the people who were submerged and trapped under a massive landslide and against the killing of two persons - a father and his son by a high ranking police officer, during the demonstrations.  On a previous occasion six trade union members from the Power Loom factories were also sentenced with imprisonment in total of 493 years – 81 years for each person - by the ATC, who were merely demanding a hike in their wages as announced by the government. The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) claims that 13 trade unionists of the Power Looms industry were sentenced for life by the ATC.

The Anti-terrorism laws are frequently used against protesting industrial workers. Their alleged crime is fighting for a better life for their members and demanding higher wages. This is a clear manifestation of the government going all out to crush any trade union movement in these factories that legitimately challenge their authority.

CASE NARRATIVE:

On 25th September 2014, Mr. Baba Jan and the eleven activists from Gilgit-Baltistan, a Northern Territory of Pakistan, were sentenced along with 11 other activists to life imprisoned by an Anti Terrorist Court (ATC). According to the verdict by the ATC, they will spend 40 additional years in prison, besides paying one million rupees in fines each. Moreover, the convicts' properties and earnings will be used to reconstruct buildings damaged and their assets we set on fire on the 11th August 2011 in Aliabad, Hunza. According to press reports, three accused were declared as absconding and they were sentenced to additional imprisonment for ten years each.

On 11th August 2011, the Judge, Shahbaz Khan presiding over the Anti-Terrorism Court in Gilgit announced the verdict of the case instituted against 17 people on charges of attacking, looting and torching government buildings in Aliabad. Enraged mobs had attacked and vandalized government buildings in Aliabad on 11th August after police killed two unarmed Internally Displaced People (IDPs) - a father and a son – who hail from the disaster hit Ayeenabad village of Gojal Valley, in Upper Hunza.

During the hearing it was proved through credible evidence led, that Baba Jan was not present when the incidents of killing of the father and the son by the police took place and the damage was being done to government property. He was popular among the youth in Gilgit-Baltistan for his activism. Baba Jan was well known for his campaign of "Attabad Lake" which came into existence earlier in year 2010 when in the massive landslide that resulted in a mountain hurling down into the Hunza River, which created an artificial lake.

On July 4th 2010 a massive landslide occurred near the Attabad village in Hunza Valley, causing a heavy loss of life and property. The landslide blocked the River Hunza, which resulted in the formation of a lake, besides inundating about a two-kilometer long stretch of the main road. This resulted in several villages being submerged by the mudslide and the formation of a newly created lake. In total, over 1,000 persons were displaced and over 25,000 were cut off from the rest of the country.

Baba Jan and his colleagues were arrested during the agitation against the killing of the two persons by police officials, despite the evidence that the shooting was done by a high ranking police officer an officer with no lesser a rank than that of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), himself. This incident occurred when on 11th August 2011 the Chief Minister of Gilgit and Baltistan was visiting the area and during that time Mr Baba was protesting on the issue of the settlement of the victims of the Attabad lake disaster (For further details, please see: AHRC-UAC-149-2011). Following the arrest he was detained for two years during which he, along with two more activists of the Pakistan Labour Party, were brutally tortured by the police and military intelligence, the ISI.

On 11 August around 200 persons were protesting during the visit of the Chief Minister of the province to Aliabad against the delay in the payment of compensation to 25 affected families of landslides near the Attabad lake. In an effort to keep the protestors away from the place where the Chief Minister was staying the police baton charged and used tear gas on the assembled demonstrators. They also opened fire with live ammunition directly at the protestors. As a result one young man, Afzal Baig, 22 years old, was shot and injured. He later died in the hospital. His father, Sher Ullah Baig. 50 year old while attempting to stop the police aggression and shooting was himself shot dead – witness accounts stated that the police acting in complete arrogance deliberately opened fire and killed him on the spot.

The next day, when the news of the deaths reached Aliabad and other areas of Hunza people came out into the streets and enraged with the incident, the protestors attacked the Aliabad police station and set fire to it. They also torched the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The law enforcement agencies again used baton charges and opened fire; they also arrested many of the protestors.

At the time of incident Baba Jan was according to reports, nowhere near the place of the incident and in fact he was a long distance away. Since he is a well-known human rights defender and a political activist of Labour Party of Pakistan -  the party that is at present, with the  Awami Workers Party - had been summoned by the people of the area to help organise the protesters and to save them from the onslaught of the police brutality. According to reports, Mr Jan, could reach there only on the following day.

The nine human rights defenders sentenced for life are; Iftikhar Hussain, son of Muhammad Ishaq, Irfan Ali, son of Arman Shah, Baba Jan, son of Abdullah Baig, Aleemullah Khan, son of Taighoon Shah, Sher Khan, son of Hamadullah Baig, Rashied Minhas Anees, son of Abdul Mateen, Sarfaraz, son of Ghulam Musa, Musa Baig, son of Abdul Rehman and Shukrullah Baig, son of Amanullah (For further details, please see the previous Urgent Appeals on this case: AHRC-UAC-149-2011; and AHRC-UAC-070-2012).

Life sentences to power looms workers:

The Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) has become a strong tool in the hands of successive governments to curb the trade unionist activities. The Act has failed to curb terrorism from the country and ATCs have continuously failed to punish the terrorists. Moreover, the ATCs have made quick decisions to release terrorists for want of evidence. The ATCs have proved weak in the face of terrorism, they have freed terrorists despite there being ample evidence, however, they have  been brave in punishing innocent workers with no evidence, whatsoever (For further details, please see: AHRC-FST-057-2011; and AHRC-UAC-109-2010).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The incident began when the Provincial Government denied the payment of compensation to the 25 affected families of the landslide disaster. There were however 457 families whose names were mentioned in the official list. It is reported that the provincial government allegedly paid the compensation owed to the 25 families to its political workers. Each family was to receive Rs. 400, 000 as compensation for the destruction of their houses in the massive floods which followed the landslide.

Pro government people with the direct help of the military have deprived the victims of the "Attabad lake" incident from receiving the compensation and have stood in between their demands for compensation. In spite of these hard facts, police opened fire on the protesters when they were protesting against the government demanding justice. Following the shooting and killing in cold blood of the young father and his son, the grandfather had pleased with the police not to use live ammunition against the protestors, but his pleadings fell on deaf ears and the police shot him dead without even a slight hint of a warning.

Gilgit-Baltistan people are well known for their active participation against the improper involvement of the American corporate and State intervention in the economic sector in the region and it is believed that this is the shadow reason behind the sectarian violence in that area. In another incident Shiite pilgrims were shot dead by persons in military uniform. Therefore, any kind of social and political activities in the area are seen by the military as anti-state activism.

Rules 776 to 809 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, deal with the issue of medical treatment. Under Rule 787, "...in each prison a hospital for the treatment of sick prisoners is required to be established. In case of illness, the prisoners should be admitted in hospital for proper treatment. Rules also provide for proper medical care and special diet to the patients during their illness."

In absence of the criminalization of torture, the law enforcement agencies are able to use torture with impunity. The Pakistan government should instigate immediate reforms in Pakistan's prison system. Baba Jan's arrest and imprisonment highlights the corruption and dysfunctional nature of the prison system which is linked to the breakdown of the rule of law in Pakistan. For years, thumbing their noses at the criminal justice system, the military has detained hundreds of people on suspicion of terrorism which includes a large number of political dissidents and others opposed to the policies of the military, particularly in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). They have applied inhuman methods including torture, collective justice and extrajudicial killings. Now the military has crossed the line by entering the jails to torture political activists.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the letters to the authorities calling them to immediately release Mr. Baba Jan and other activists of Gilgit Baltistan who were sentenced to life imprisonment for demanding a fair inquiry against the police officials for killing two persons in cold blood on the issue of the mere implementation of government announced compensation for the affected persons of the 'Attaab Abad Lake' disaster. Please also urge them to release the 13 workers of the powerloom industry from Faisalabad and Karachi who were also sentenced to life imprisonment by the Anti Terrorist Courts. The government must stop using the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against the workers who are struggling for decent wages and a decent life. The government must prosecute those police officials of the Gilgit Baltistan and also the officials of intelligence agencies who were involved in torturing Baba Jan and other four prisoners during their custody.  

The AHRC will write separately to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders calling for his intervention into this matter.

To support this appeal, please click here: send-small.gif

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ………………..,

PAKISTAN: Release with immediate effect, Baba Jan and other eleven human rights defenders, sentenced for life imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court

Name of victims:
1.Baba Jan son of Abdullah Baig, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
2. Iftikhar Hussain son of Muhammad Ishaq, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
3. Irfan Ali son of Arman Shah, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
4.  Aleemullah Khan son of Taighoon Shah, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
5. Sher Khan son of Hamadullah Baig resident of Gilgit Baltistan
6. Rashied Minhas Anees son of Abdul Mateen, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
7. Sarfaraz son of Ghulam Musa, resident of Gilgit Baltistan
8. Musa Baig son of Abdul Rehman resident of Gilgit Baltistan
9. Shukrullah Baig son of Amanullah. resident of Gilgit Baltistan

The workers tried in Anti Terrorist Courts;

10. Mr. Saif Ur Rehman, son of Mr. Muhammad Zahid, working in power loom factories
11. Mr. Naik Muhammad, son of Mr. Muhammad Qayum, working in power loom factories
12. Mr. Irshad, son of Mr. Gohar Rehman, working in power loom factories
13. Mr. Muhammad Rome, son of Mr. Mohammad Zaman, working in power loom factories
14. Mr. Nizam Uddin, son of Mr. Awas Gul, working in power loom factories
15. Mr. Akhter Ali, son of Mr. Muhammad Shreef, working in power loom factories
16. Mr. Hazrat Yousaf, working in power loom factories
17. Akbar Ali Kamboh, working in power loom factories
18. Babar Shafiq Randhawa, working in power loom factories
19, Fazal Elahi, working in power loom factories
20 Rana Riaz Ahmed, working in power loom factories

Names of alleged perpetrators:
Anti Terrorist Courts in Karachi and Faisalabad
Government of Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan
Date of incident: September 25, 2014 and 2011
Place of incident: Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the sentences to life imprisonment passed on the human rights defenders and the trade unionists in Gilgit and Baltistan, Faisalabad Punjab and Karachi Sindh in Pakistan, by Anti Terrorist Courts.

I am shocked to know that the human rights defenders and trade unionist are tried in the Anti Terrorist Courts (ATCs) and are sentenced to life imprisonment for demanding the implementation of an already announced compensation and increase in wages.

The acts of trying human rights defenders in ATCs are to harass and punish the people who are raising legal demands for a decent life.

I have received information that on 25th September 2014, Mr. Baba Jan and the eleven activists from Gilgit-Baltistan, a Northern Territory of Pakistan, were sentenced along with 11 other activists to life imprisoned by an Anti Terrorist Court (ATC). According to the verdict by the ATC, they will spend 40 additional years in prison, besides paying one million rupees in fines each. Moreover, the convicts' properties and earnings will be used to reconstruct buildings damaged and their assets we set on fire on the 11th August 2011 in Aliabad, Hunza. According to press reports, three accused were declared as absconding and they were sentenced to additional imprisonment for ten years each.

On 11th August 2011, the Judge, Shahbaz Khan presiding over the Anti-Terrorism Court in Gilgit announced the verdict of the case instituted against 17 people on charges of attacking, looting and torching government buildings in Aliabad. Enraged mobs had attacked and vandalized government buildings in Aliabad on 11th August after police killed two unarmed Internally Displaced People (IDPs) - a father and a son – who hail from the disaster hit Ayeenabad village of Gojal Valley, in Upper Hunza.

During the hearing it was proved through credible evidence led, that Baba Jan was not present when the incidents of killing of the father and the son by the police took place and the damage was being done to government property. He was popular among the youth in Gilgit-Baltistan for his activism. Baba Jan was well known for his campaign of "Attabad Lake" which came into existence earlier in year 2010 when in the massive landslide that resulted in a mountain hurling down into the Hunza River, which created an artificial lake.

On July 4th 2010 a massive landslide occurred near the Attabad village in Hunza Valley, causing a heavy loss of life and property. The landslide blocked the River Hunza, which resulted in the formation of a lake, besides inundating about a two-kilometer long stretch of the main road. This resulted in several villages being submerged by the mudslide and the formation of a newly created lake. In total, over 1,000 persons were displaced and over 25,000 were cut off from the rest of the country.

Baba Jan and his colleagues were arrested during the agitation against the killing of the two persons by police officials, despite the evidence that the shooting was done by a high ranking police officer an officer with no lesser a rank than that of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), himself. This incident occurred when on 11th August 2011 the Chief Minister of Gilgit and Baltistan was visiting the area and during that time Mr Baba was protesting on the issue of the settlement of the victims of the Attabad lake disaster (For further details, please see: AHRC-UAC-149-2011 ). Following the arrest he was detained for two years during which he, along with two more activists of the Pakistan Labour Party, were brutally tortured by the police and military intelligence, the ISI.

On 11 August around 200 persons were protesting during the visit of the Chief Minister of the province to Aliabad against the delay in the payment of compensation to 25 affected families of landslides near the Attabad lake. In an effort to keep the protestors away from the place where the Chief Minister was staying the police baton charged and used tear gas on the assembled demonstrators. They also opened fire with live ammunition directly at the protestors. As a result one young man, Afzal Baig, 22 years old, was shot and injured. He later died in the hospital. His father, Sher Ullah Baig. 50 year old while attempting to stop the police aggression and shooting was himself shot dead – witness accounts stated that the police acting in complete arrogance deliberately opened fire and killed him on the spot.

The next day, when the news of the deaths reached Aliabad and other areas of Hunza people came out into the streets and enraged with the incident, the protestors attacked the Aliabad police station and set fire to it. They also torched the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The law enforcement agencies again used baton charges and opened fire; they also arrested many of the protestors.

At the time of incident Baba Jan was according to reports, nowhere near the place of the incident and in fact he was a long distance away. Since he is a well-known human rights defender and a political activist of Labour Party of Pakistan -  the party that is at present, with the  Awami Workers Party - had been summoned by the people of the area to help organise the protesters and to save them from the onslaught of the police brutality. According to reports, Mr Jan, could reach there only on the following day.
As per the information I have received, the 09 human rights defenders sentenced for life are; Iftikhar Hussain, son of Muhammad Ishaq, Irfan Ali, son of Arman Shah, Baba Jan, son of Abdullah Baig, Aleemullah Khan, son of Taighoon Shah, Sher Khan, son of Hamadullah Baig, Rashied Minhas Anees, son of Abdul Mateen, Sarfaraz, son of Ghulam Musa, Musa Baig, son of Abdul Rehman and Shukrullah Baig, son of Amanullah.

I may note that the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) has become a strong tool in the hands of successive governments to curb the trade unionist activities. The Act has failed to curb terrorism from the country and ATCs have continuously failed to punish the terrorists. Moreover, the ATCs have made quick decisions to release terrorists for want of evidence. The ATCs have proved weak in the face of terrorism, they have freed terrorists despite there being ample evidence, however, they have been brave in punishing innocent workers with no evidence, whatsoever.

Therefore am imploring on your good offices to immediately intervene to release Mr. Baba Jan and other activists of Gilgit Baltistan who were sentenced to life imprisonment for demanding a fair inquiry against the police officials for killing two persons in cold blood on the issue of the mere implementation of government announced compensation for the affected persons of the 'Attaab Abad Lake' disaster. Please also take appropriate action to release several other workers, 13 workers of the Power-Loom industry from Faisalabad and Karachi who were also sentenced to life imprisonment by the Anti Terrorist Courts. The government must immediately put a halt to using the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against the workers who are struggling for decent wages and a decent life. The government must prosecute those police officials of the Gilgit Baltistan and also the officials of intelligence agencies who were involved in torturing Baba Jan and other four prisoners during their custody.  

Yours sincerely,

……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111+92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk or pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk

2. Mr. Syed Mehdi Shah
Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan
Chief Minister's Secretariat, Gilgit
Tel: +92-5811-920573+92-5811-920573
Fax: +92 5811 50-201
Email: info@gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk

3. Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk

4. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220

5. Mr. Pervez Rashid
Federal Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9204108
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk

6. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister
Government of Punjab Province
Chief Minister's Secretariat
5-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Punjab
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk

7. Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister Sindh
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

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Million March- what is the game plan? Dr Shabir Choudhry

Million March- what is the game plan?

Dr Shabir Choudhry       18 October 2014

A campaign is in full swing to find people who can travel to London for the Million March, which, in view of many analysts, is against the national interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir State, and against their struggle to unite the divided homeland. Those who occupy us first started a proxy war and proxy politics, in which ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered; and now, in view of some people, proxy protests are being encouraged to score points against each other.

Those who have been at the forefront of either defending a pro India stance or a pro Pakistan stance, for example, Farooq Abdullah on the Indian side, and politicians with similar qualities on the Pakistani side, no matter which new slogan they promote, people will always question their motives.

I had a phone call from Halifax in west Yorkshire, England. One old friend said that after the Friday prayer it was announced that free coaches and free food will be provided for the volunteers who will join the Million March to help the Kashmir cause. He asked me who was paying for the coaches and the food. I said to him why you didn’t ask the man who was recruiting people for a free return trip to London.

He asked me if the Million March will help to promote the Kashmir cause. I said in my opinion it will send a wrong message because the Million March is designed to focus attention on the parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by India and remain quiet about the problems and occupation of Pakistan. Members of the world community are not fools. They know if a struggle or a protest is supported by one occupier to expose the other occupier, it is not considered as a genuine struggle. It is an attempt to divert attention from the problems of people living on the Pakistani side, and give it a religious touch, which will further divide the people of Jammu and Kashmir on religious and ethnic lines.

Rumour is that this March is sponsored by those who want the Kashmir pot boiling, as it suits their political and economic interests. Kashmiri struggle has become their business. Blood of Kashmiri people and their suffering is essential for their business enterprise. According to this rumour, one million pounds has been allocated to this project, and this is why it is called a ‘Million March; and not that the organisers will be able to muster one million people. With the team at work, and the resources at their disposal, it is possible that they can get around four thousand people in London. Even if they get three thousand people to protest in London, it will be a successful event.

  

No matter how many thousands people turn up for the protest, but we know there is something there for the sponsors and the managers; but million dollar question is, what is there for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Is this March designed to project the Kashmir cause, as claimed by the organisers; or is it going to harm it?

When we talk of Kashmir dispute, we mean areas under India, China and areas under Pakistan, namely Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. But the sponsors of this protest and those who are managing it are more interested in areas of Jammu and Kashmir under India. Because they think Azad Kashmir is ‘Azad’, and they want to make Gilgit Baltistan part of Pakistan.

Like in the past, they want to fool the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. The Million March website only quotes part 3 of the UNCIP Resolution of 13 August 1948, and makes no mention of the part 2, which held Pakistan ‘guilty’ of sending troops and tribesmen to capture Kashmir; and demanded Pakistan to withdraw. The UNCIP Resolution part 2, 1A says:

A. (1) As the presence of troops of Pakistan in the territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes a material change in the situation since it was represented by the Government of Pakistan before the Security Council, the Government of Pakistan agrees to withdraw its troops from that State.

(2) The Government of Pakistan will use its best endeavour to secure the withdrawal from the State of Jammu and Kashmir of tribesmen and Pakistan nationals not normally resident therein who have entered the State for the purpose of fighting.

(3) Pending a final solution the territory evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the Commission.

B. (1) When the Commission shall have notified the Government of India that the tribesmen and Pakistan nationals referred to in Part II A2 hereof have withdrawn, thereby terminating the situation which was represented by the Government of India to the Security Council as having occasioned the presence of Indian forces in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and further, that the Pakistan forces are being withdrawn from the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India agrees to begin to withdraw the bulk of their forces from the State in stages to be agreed upon with the Commission.

As a person who believes in right of expression and democratic values, I acknowledge that it is for the people to decide what they want to do; whether they should stay at home or take a free ride to London to support the March. However, it is responsibility of the thinking people to analyse issues and tell people what is happening, and who is doing what in name of helping the Kashmir cause.

I know instructions are being issued to all who generally act as a ‘B team’ of the Pakistani establishment on the issue of Kashmir that they must support the Million March. Some Kashmiri nationalists opposed the March initially, as they rightly thought it was counterproductive, and not meant to promote the cause of Jammu and Kashmir. However, after dictation from both sides of the LOC, they have reluctantly expressed their support for the Million March; but in order to satisfy their ego they requested a meeting with Barrister Sultan Mahmood, which was honoured to massage ego of these nationalists.

Some other nationalists also don’t want to annoy the people who call shots in this matter, and are looking for excuses to support the cause which is very close to heart of Islamabad. I am sure their presence will be welcomed and they will be given appropriate media coverage to convey the message that Pro Pakistan and nationalist Kashmiris are against Indian occupation only; and that they trust Pakistani efforts on Kashmir.

In view of many thinking people, to support the Million March is to support Pakistani policy on the Kashmir dispute. It means people of Jammu and Kashmir have no complaints against Pakistan; and they are only interested in liberation of Kashmir under India. It also means justifying everything Pakistan has done in name of Jammu and Kashmir since August 1947. It means justifying the violation of the Standstill Agreement, and supporting the Tribal Invasion which led to provisional accession to India; and forced division of Jammu and Kashmir. It means justifying everything they have done in Azad Kashmir and in Gilgit Baltistan. It means justifying actions of Punjab Constabulary in Poonch in 1950s. It also means justifying their sponsored militancy and extremism with disastrous consequences for Jammu and Kashmir and its people.

In this regard, alliance of nationalist parties (Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance) has taken positive steps. They have arranged token hunger strikes outside the Indian and Pakistani High Commissions in London on 25 January, followed by a press conference in London to tell the world that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is occupied and disputed; and that we want unification and independence of the State of Jammu and Kashmir that existed on 16 August 1947.

In conclusion, the Million March can attract 4-5 thousand people, but it will not help to promote the Kashmir cause. If anything, the event will send a wrong message and will further divide people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the event will surely make some people rich, and enhance political standing of aspirants of power politics.

Writer is a political analyst, TV anchor and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs.

Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com  

Pakistan is sliding toward extremism, by Farahnaz Ispahani and Nina Shea, Special to CNN

Pakistan is sliding toward extremism

By Farahnaz Ispahani and Nina Shea, Special to CNN

Editor’s note: Farahnaz Ispahani is a former member of the Pakistani parliament and Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center 2013-2014. Her forthcoming book is 'Waiting to Die: Pakistan's religious minorities'. Nina Shea is a senior fellow, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom and co- author of 'Silenced; How apostasy and blasphemy codes are choking freedom worldwide'. The views expressed are their own.

The decision to award Malala Yousafzai the Nobel Peace Prize last week was a good one. After all, the 17 year-old, who was named a joint winner with along withKailash Satyarthi, personifies the struggle for modernity, women’s equality and individual rights to religious freedom against the threat of Islamic extremism. But while Malala’s award is a triumph for her determination, it is far from clear that the cause she champions will meet as much success.

The reality is that Pakistan is facing a serious problem, with the mushrooming of Islamist appeal within Pakistani society reminding us that we risk seeing the Talibanization not simply of a small minority of ordinary citizens, but large swathes of the populace of the world’s second largest – and only nuclear-armed – Muslim country.

Pakistan abounds with violent sectarian and Islamist groups headquartered in semiautonomous tribal areas. Foreign jihadists, including Westerners like American David Headley, flock to areas such as North Waziristan. Yet although Islamabad devotes a full third of its armed forces to the northwest of the country, it is also pursuing policies that encourage a mainstream slide toward extremism.

State laws and practices relating to Islamic blasphemy, in particular, are increasingly suppressing moderate voices, while allowing extremists to dominate cultural discourse and learning. As a result, extremism is making ideological inroads into wider and wider segments of the population.

A shocking example came last month with the drive-by shooting of Muhammad Shakeel Auj, dean of Islamic Studies at the venerable Karachi University. Auj had earned a PhD after writing a comparison of eight Urdu translations of the Quran. But some found offense in his “liberal” religious views as he passionately denounced terrorism and suggested that Muslim women could pray wearing lipstick and could marry non-Muslims.

Over the past two years, Auj has been subject to a barrage of blasphemy accusations, fatwas, and death threats, including that he will be beheaded. Particularly troubling is that four of his own faculty members were allegedly behind some of the threats. They were arrested, but soon released on bail. As one obituary writer commented, Auj’s murder shows that now “even the most mainstream Sunni voices will not be tolerated.”

Junaid Hafeez, another university professor, may soon be sentenced to death by the state. Charged with insulting the Prophet Mohammed on Facebook, he is now on trial for the capital crime of blasphemy. Yet the charge is based entirely on oral testimony of students linked to the hardline Jamaat-i-Islami party.

Hafeez has reportedly found it difficult to find a lawyer willing to defend him, not least because those who manage to secure an acquittal for accused blasphemers run the risk of being seen as blasphemers themselves. And while the state doesn’t penalize such defense lawyers, it also does little to protect them or punish their extrajudicial killers either. For example, while after his first two lawyers quit following death threats, Hafeez was able to hire Rashid Rehman, a senior lawyer with Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission. But on May 7, Rehman was shot dead in his office. His killers remain at large.

Liberal Muslim educators, lawyers, and human rights activists aren’t the only victims of the country’s anti-blasphemy codes. Often targeted are the Ahmadis, an as many as 5 million strong, well-educated community that professes faith in Islam, but which is not deemed Muslim under Pakistan’s constitution. The sect’s tenets renounce violent jihad and embrace the separation of mosque and state, as well as religious pluralism. They now account for 40 percent of blasphemy prosecutions, which also disproportionately target Christians, Shia, and Hindus.

Such extremism has touched us personally. Our friends Shahbaz Bhatti, the former Minority Affairs Minister, and Salman Taseer, Punjab’s former governor, were both outspoken critics of the blasphemy conviction of Christian mother Asia Bibi, and both were gunned down in 2011. The Lahore High Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence against Asia Bibi.

The blasphemy law was originally introduced to appease extremists, but has instead stimulated an appetite for more. As Bhatti noted: “This law is creating disharmony and intolerance in our society.” He is right – it legitimizes and enflames religious passions over speech, while providing extremists a platform within the very heart of Pakistani society.

American drones are now aiming at Pakistan’s northwest terrorist snake pit. But there is no military solution to the blasphemy law. And while it is only right that we celebrate Malala’s Nobel award, we also cannot forget the growing numbers of Pakistanis that take no pride in such an achievement.

http://ht.ly/2Pg3rW