What goes around, comes around

Almost nine years back, Musharraf had ousted all major politicians from the country charging them to cause corruption and mayham in the country. Nine years later, the same set of politicians have returned, and ousted him from power.

General Musharraf's caused his own downfall by creating an environment of distrust, violence and chaos. Ever since December 2006, and a peaceful protest against "Missing people" in Islamabad, his power has been waning and his popularity dropping. Musharraf's legacy would be as the president who:

• Illegal Abduction: Caused the illegal abduction of Pakistani citizens without any charge against them.
• Illegal Arrests and Extradition: Handing over hundreds of Pakistanis without trial to foreign powers in the name of "war against terror" without bringing any charges against them.
• Illegal NRO: Creating an illegal NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) which takes back all cases against the political parties for their wrong doing. In essence sending a message that one can do as many wrongs as they want, they will be forgiven.
• Talibanism in Pakistan: There is more Talibanism in the country since his war on them began. All his policies have failed miserably to curb violence, terrorism and talibanism. It will probably take decades for the impact of his failed policies to be eliminated.
• National Accountablity Bureau: A government instrument created to catch the culprits. So far, it has played a dubious role of going after Musharraf's enemies. NAB has also not really taken strict action against any army general who has been involved in corruption. Hence, a political institute for political parties to use to harrass their enemies.
  

The current crop of politicians will have to continue to deliver on the will of the people. The judges have to be restored and the economy has to be stablized and strenghthened. Otherwise, PPP and PML (N) will also be ousted from power.

Prisoner 650 at Bagram Jail

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1045905-pakistan-afia

We must write to relavent authories and bring it to their notice for the human rights violation and abuses faced by Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Here is a sample letter to send out to all authorities.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear________,

PAKISTAN/USA: A lady doctor is missing with her three children since five years after her arrest

Name of victim: Ms. Dr. Afia Siddiqui and her three children
Block 7, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh province
The units of the alleged perpetrators: Intelligence agencies of Pakistan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI-US)

I am shocked to know that Dr. Afia Siddiqui, a Pakistani citizen has been missing with her three children since April 2003, after her arrest by intelligence agencies of Pakistan. The whereabouts of children is also unknown, which is a serious act of negligence on the part of the government with regard to its responsibility to protect the citizen of the Pakistan.

According to the information I have received Dr. Afia was picked-up by Pakistani intelligence agencies while on her way to the airport and initial reports suggested that she was handed over to the American FBI. A few days later an American news channel, NBC, reported that Afia had been arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of facilitating money transfers for terror networks of Osama Bin Laden.

On April 1, 2003, a small news item was published in an Urdu daily with reference to a press conference of then Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat when, in reply to a question regarding the arrest of Dr. Siddiqui, he said she has not been arrested. But in another report the minister for interior said,"You will be astonished to know about the activities of Dr. Afia." A weekly English magazine in its special coverage on Dr. Afia reported that after one week of the incident, an intelligence agency official, a motor cyclist in plain clothes, came to the house of her mother and warned "We know that you are connected to higher-ups but do not make an issue out of her daughter's disappearance" and threatened her with dire consequences. After this development the whereabouts of Dr. Afia and her children are yet unknown.

What is also of grave concern to me is that when she was arrested by Pakistani intelligence authorities she was handed over to American intelligence agencies without being tried in Pakistan, I do not find any rationale in sending her along with her children to other country when there are Pakistani laws to deal with the suspected terrorists. It is known that President Musharraf handed over 600 suspected terrorists to America.

There are reports that in Afghanistan's prison of Bagram there is a woman prison known as Prisoner 650 and that she has been severely tortured. It is also widely suspected that Prisoner 650 is Dr. Afia Siddiqui. This prisoner has reportedly lost her mind due to constant rape and ill treatment.

I remind you that this is the duty of coalition government under Prime Minister Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani to probe cases of those Pakistani suspected terrorists who have been handed over to foreign forces in the name of war on terror. The government should also inform Pakistani citizens about the whereabouts of Dr. Afia Siddiqui and her children. I also demand that government should also ensure the safety of her children.

Yours sincerely,

-------------
PLEASE SEND YOU LETTERS TO:

1. The Chief
Allied Joint Force Command
Head Quarters Brunssum,
Public Affirs office, P.O. BOX 270
6440, AG, Brunssem
THE NETHERLANDS
Tel. No.: +31 45 526 2409
Email: pio@jfcbs.nato.intHeadquart

2. Mr. George W. Bush
President of the United State of America (USA)
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20500
USA
Email: presidents@presidentsusa.net

3. Mr. Hamid Karzai
President of Afghanistan
Gul Khana Palace
Presidential Palace
Kabul
AFGHANISTAN
Email: president@afghanistangov.org

4. General Pervez Musharraf
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422 / 4768; 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail: (please see: http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx)

5. Mr. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House, Islamabad,
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: webmaster@infopak.gov.pk or infominister@pak.gov.pk

6. Mr. Farooq Naik
Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2628
E-mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

7. Mr. Rehman Malik
Advisor for Ministry of Interior
Room No. 404, 4th Floor, R Block,
Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2624
Tel: +92 51 921 2026
E-mail: minister@interior.gov.pk


Thank you

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

Pakistan, Porverty and Violence

I have been following the reports by Sudhir from the tribal areas in Pakistan. I was struck by the intensity of the pictures, the powerful contrast between the ever so present violence and the suffering of the people strikes you. It is hard to grasp how the difficult the situation is in the area.

I collected some of the pictures into a short video clip, and will let the video speak for itself. The background music is a Swedish folklore. (You might need to turn up the volume a bit.)

http://www.allvoices.com/userevents/863375-pakistan-poverty

Source, Erik Sundelof @ allvoices.com

APPJD & DFD Seminar at APPNA Summer Meeting Washington, D.C.
An interactive forum with the heroes of the judiciary movement in Pakistan and senior politicians: Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008 Time: 12 Noon - 2 P.M. Venue: Wardman Park Marriott, Washington D.C. Join the American Pakistani Physicians for Justice and Democracy and the Doctors for Democracy, NY in welcoming: Aitzaz Ahsan,Esq. , President Supreme Court Bar Association Pak Hon. Ahsan Iqbal, MNA PML-N and former federal minister Hon. Justice (R) Wajihuddin Ahmed, eminent jurist & leader lawyers' movement HE Mr. Hussain Haqqani, Pak Ambassador to the USA APDM representatives We thank you for supporting the struggle for restoration of the superior judiciary in Pakistan; this is your opportunity to discuss with the leaders directly the future plan of action and to give them your feedback. Our gratitude to Dr.Mehmud Alam, President APPNA , Dr. Rashid Piracha, Chairman Advocacy committee. Organizers: Drs. Abdul Majeed, Zahid Imran, Kamal Haider, Fahim Butt, Shahid Sheikh, Ashraf Toor, Shahid Latif, Ghazala Kazi, Nasir Gondal,Aijaz Turk, M. Taqi Contact: PH: 269-420-5656 & 516-655-4134 www.appjd.org

Long March, Restoration of Judiciary and PPP

So it is official. Aitzaz Ahsan, an old time PPP stalwart led long march will be culminating in Islamabad on Friday in support of restoration or judges. It seems, PML (N) faction will also support them along with other smaller political forces.

Yet, what is amazing is that PPP, the democratically elected party, keeping its distance from the long march and in fact has put up all sorts of barricades and police checkposts to keep the protestors from reaching them. The security cordon is not much dissimilar to what Musharaf used to put up against the protestors not long ago.

In this scenario to expect anything good to come out is pretty remote. It is quite evident that PPP will probably restore the judges, but will also not remove the current ones, thus increasing the bench from 16 to 29. Already, they have presented this bill in the parliament for the increase in supreme court judges.

If such a thing happens, it is a sure sign that PPP has made a backdoor deal with the President where he keeps his judges while the old ones are also restored. Hence, ensuring that the judges will never have the majority to remove him or any of his cronies.

source Allvoices.com

One man against a nation

Here is a wonderful video that we found that depicts the feelings of Pakistanis and how they have stood up against one man who is struggling to hang on to power.



We dedicate this video to all the people who are struggling for democracy and freedom from oppression in Pakistan.