[Onthebarricades] PAKISTAN: Wave of protests, unrest and repression as lawyers, activists and journalists challenge regime
Andy
ldxar1 at tesco.net
Mon Oct 1 16:54:35 PDT 2007
Thanks to CMKP and Socialist Pakistan News for many of these stories. - Andy
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=74233
Police action in Islamabad
By By Adeel Pathan
10/1/2007
HYDERABAD: The media persons on Sunday observed a black day across the Sindh province and strongly protested the police action in Islamabad against their fraternity.
A large number of local journalists and media persons gathered at the Hyderabad Press Club and took out a protest rally to mark their disapproval that no rule of gun or baton-charge could keep them from performing professional duties.
Reports from other districts of the province said that almost all of the major cities, towns and villages the journalists observed Sunday as a 'black day' against the police action in Islamabad. They also took out rallies, shouted slogans, and took banners inscribed with slogans against the state's use of power against its own citizens.
They termed the police action in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore as act of terrorism and demanded action against those responsible, including the information minister and senior police officers.
They said the torture on the media persons proved that the press freedom was still a dream in Pakistan. They said such incidents would not stop journalists from delivering their professional duties, adding the government must respect press freedom.
Meanwhile, activists of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) staged protest demonstrations outside the Hyderabad Press Club against the manhandling of journalists and lawyers in Islamabad and Karachi. District president of PPP Zahid Bhurguri MPA while women wing president of PML-N Soorath Thebo led the demonstrations and expressed solidarity with the journalists.
The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) General Secretary Imdad Kazi in a statement condemned the police torture against journalists and termed it a grave situation in terms of lawlessness in the country. He said power race within the ruling parties for a bigger share was creating anarchy in the country.
Imtiaz Hussain adds from Khairpur: Journalists and lawyers here on Sunday observed black day against police highhandedness in Islamabad.
The journalists wore black armbands and hoisted black flags over the press club.
President of People's Lawyers Forum, Sukkur division, Liaquat Hussain Sher advocate, Manzoor Hussain Larik and others alleged that the Chaudhrys of Gujrat had brought people from Gujrat to attack journalists and the lawyers in Islamabad.
They said the show of brute force defamed the country. They demanded of the Supreme Court to take suo moto notice and bring the culprits to book.
They termed the Islamabad action state terrorism and an attempt to subjugate the media. They called for stern action against police officials involved.
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Brutal Protest by Lawyers against Musharraf [in Pictures]
Click Here to see all the pictures I could collect of the protest
going in Islamabad against Musharraf outside Election commission office.
http://www.pakistanuncut.com/2007/09/29/brutal-protest-by-lawyers-against-musharraf-in-pictures/
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/09/30/story_30-9-2007_pg12_1
Lathi goli ki sarkar, nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi!
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised,
will not be televised,
will not be televised.
The revolution will be no re-run brothers;
The revolution will be live... Gil Scott-Heron (1970)
3 lawyers and one journalist injured in police shelling
* FIR lodged against 30 lawyers, including presidential nominee, Gandapur
* Protest against Musharraf's nomination, not SC decision: Naeem Qureshi
By Urooj Zia with photos by Athar Hussain
KARACHI: Three lawyers and one journalist were seriously injured Saturday afternoon when policemen in riot gear entered the jurisdiction of the City Court and fired teargas shells at lawyers protesting the nomination of General Pervez Musharraf in the upcoming elections.
"For the past four days, the police had been slowly barricading the area around the City Court," a lawyer, Sakina, who was suffering from the effects of the teargas an hour and a half after the protesters were attacked by the police. "Today they brought the barricades closer, and started shelling as soon as we stepped out on the road. This was on Raja Riaz Shaheed Road, within the jurisdiction of the City Court."
KBA members attended an emergency general body meeting at 11:00 a.m. after which they came out to stage a protest on main M.A. Jinnah road where the police were waiting to check their movement ahead of time.
The groups of lawyers were forced to retreat by batteries of policemen in riot gear. They pushed the lawyers back into the alley in front of the KBA office. This led to some stone pelting from the lawyers' side as the police responded with baton charge.
Protesters responded to the shelling by pelting stones at the policemen. Three lawyers, Masood Rehman advocate, Khalid Tanoli, and Javed Sheikh, and one journalist, Fareed, a photographer with the Associated Press (AP) were injured by the shelling. They were taken to Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for treatment.
The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) held a meeting in the morning, and everyone who participated insisted that lawyers should take to the streets to protest the nomination of General Pervez Musharraf in the upcoming elections, lawyers said. The bar association management decided, however, that lawyers will not take to the streets - they would stay within the jurisdiction of the City Court and protest. "We decided to assemble on Raja Riaz Shaheed Road (outside the bar room)," Masood Rehman advocate, one of the lawyers who was injured, said when Daily Times spoke to him at the CHK emergency room. "The moment we got there, however, police vehicles on both sides of the road (the lighthouse, and Tayeb Ali Alvi Road) started firing teargas shells at us."
The lawyers were unarmed. 'The only weapons we had were our pens. Come to think of it, they could be lethal,' lawyers at CHK said.
Karachi Bar ambulances were brought in and those seriously injured were taken to the CHK. The rest who suffered minor after-effects of the teargas were treated within the City Court compound.
'The police are still standing outside, and we can't leave, because they might start firing at us again,' lawyers said. 'We have therefore gone to the District and Sessions Judge (South), Nisar Shaikh, to ask him to make the policemen move out of here.'
Policemen posted outside the City Court compound an hour after the incident claimed, however, that nothing 'untoward' had happened in the area. "No, there was no shelling here. The protesters are up there in the building, talking to the judge," an officer-in-charge claimed. When asked why they had brought riot police with them when 'nothing untoward' had happened, the officer replied, "This is our city, our Karachi. We can go where we please."
A total of four lawyers were arrested and taken to the City Court Police Station.
The City Court police lodged FIR No. 104/07 (under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 504) against at least 30 lawyers, including KBA's secretary general, on behalf of Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ameen. SHO Zahid Hussain told Daily Times that four lawyers, advocate Salahuddin Gandapur, advocate Abdul Saeed Qureshi, Gul Mohammad and Sohail Baig Noori were taken into the custody and KBA General Sectary Naeem Qureshi, Hanif Kashmiri, Faheem Zia, Saleem Zia, Javaid K. K. and others have yet to be arrested. The SHO said that he and his policemen, ASI Tariq Mehmood, were injured during the riots.
Saturday's protests were not against the Supreme Court's September 29 decision, KBA's Naeem Qureishi said. "Our protest was to challenge the nomination papers filed by General Pervez Musharraf for the upcoming presidential elections. We had called this protest on September 25. Today lawyers all over Pakistan were observing a Black Day."
Moreover, Qureishi said, the Supreme Court's decision did not state that President General Pervez Musharraf could contest the upcoming elections in uniform. "The Supreme Court ruling was about the objections filed by various parties and their admissibility in court," he explained.
Policemen posted outside the city court premises promised to stay at their positions post-Iftar. "We've ordered Iftar for everyone here. We plan to stay here for a long while," the officer-in-charge claimed.
Later, District and Sessions Judge South on a complaint by Javed Burki, counsel for Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, ordered judicial magistrate Ashique Ali Ghauri to conduct raids to recover the detained.
[End]
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/09/30/story_30-9-2007_pg12_3
'Oppression and arrests do not scare us'
KARACHI: The mood in the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) offices was jubilant and militant at the same time Saturday afternoon, as lawyers vowed to 'continue protests despite continued oppression and arrests'. They said this in the aftermath of the day's protests, where shelling by riot police left three lawyers and a journalist injured.
Lawyers sat around a television on the top floor of one of the City Court buildings, watching footage of protests in Islamabad and Karachi. They cheered every time a lawyer was shown fighting back with policemen. 'Yeh! Sher ka bacha!'
Footage of lawyers being baton charged elicited anti-State and anti-Musharraf slogans in the packed room: Musharraf [...], haey haey; Lathi goli ki sarkar, nahi chaleygi nahi chaleygi.
Footage from Islamabad showed Federal Information Minister Tariq Azeem standing in a doorway, looking out at the protest outside. "Baher nikal, [...]," (Come out, you...) the lawyers in the KBA room shouted, just as the cable connection suddenly went out. They then chanted slogans in favour of Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin, who is standing against General Pervez Musharraf in the upcoming presidential elections.
"The government is making a show of power. It wants to send a message across: dissenters and people demanding the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law will be suppressed," said Masood Rehman Advocate, one of the lawyers who was injured in Saturday afternoon's shelling around the City Court. "Saturday afternoon's shelling was a violation of human rights. In order to cling to power, a dictator is oppressing the masses from all schools of thought. The basic rights of the people of Pakistan are being taken away from them."
In a statement made to media personnel later, KBA general secretary Naeem Qureshi said that lawyers had filed a petition at the Supreme Court, and with the Election Commission of Pakistan. "We have listed nine objections that we have against General Pervez Musharraf's nomination in the upcoming presidential elections. Our struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law shall continue until democracy is restored in the country," he said . urooj zia
[End]
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007/09/30/story_30-9-2007_pg12_4
11 arrested from peaceful protest outside ECP
KARACHI: Eleven people, including Asad Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), were arrested Saturday morning during a peaceful protest across the road from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
At 11:35 a.m. Saturday, around 15 people carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-Musharraf slogans congregated across the road from the ECP office, within the jurisdiction of the Preedy Police Station. Ten minutes later, the police baton charged the crowd, pushed 11 of them into vans and took them to the Artillery Maidan police station. Those arrested included Makhdoom Ayub Qureishi of the National Party, the general secretary of the All-Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF), Farid Awan, Yawer Ali from the Irtiqa Institute, Ali Hasan and Dr Riaz Ahmed from the International Socialists Pakistan (ISPak), Raheel Iqbal of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Railway Workers Federation central president Manzoor Razi, Asad Butt from the HRCP, Mahroof Sultan from the Karachi United Welfare Association, Hasan Alia, a freelance journalist, and Ali Raza, a student. The protesters were unarmed and went nowhere near the gates of the ECP, according to eyewitnesses, including rickshaw and cab drivers and shop owners.
Personnel from the Preedy Police Station maintained, however, that the protesters were breaking the law. "They were trying to enter the premises of the ECP," said one officer. "We repeatedly told them to stay back, and when they refused, we baton charged them in order to disperse the crowd."
The protesters were then kept in temporary custody at the Artillery Maidan Police Station, "because we don't want people flooding the Preedy police station," officers from the Preedy station said.
"You won't find them there right now, though," Imtiaz Soomro from the Preedy station said. "They will have been moved to an undisclosed location. They will be brought out only if we want to press charges, otherwise no one needs to know their location. They will probably be released in the evening with a warning. They were picked up just to stop the demonstration."
A visit to the Artillery Maidan police station showed, however, that the detained protesters were still there. No FIRs had been lodged, nor were any charges being brought against them.
When the District and Sessions Judge (South) was told about the incident, he issued an notification ( No.2695 of 2007), ordering Civil Judge (and Judicial Magistrate), Ashique Ali Ghori, to conduct a raid at the Artillery Maidan Police Station, and set free anyone who was being detained illegally (without an FIR).
The magistrate reached the police station around 3:15 p.m. He claimed to have searched every room at the station, and found no illegal detainees. In the meantime, an FIR against the 11 detainees was lodged at the Preedy Police Station, under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). "Section 149 is a non-bailable offence," Ghori said. "This means that an order will have to be obtained from the court in order to release the detainees. Tomorrow is Sunday, so this will have to be done Monday. In the meantime, the 11 men will stay in the lockup."
Some lawyers who had come to the police station to plead the prisoners' case said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had issued orders for the release of all protesters who had been detained. "All detainees in Islamabad have been released under this order," they said. Ghori maintained, however, that the CJP's order could not be implemented in Karachi. Moreover, he said, the Artillery Maidan Police Station was out of his jurisdiction, and he had been sent there only with orders to get all illegal detainees released. "Beyond that, I'm not authorised to do anything here. The 11 people you are talking about have not been detained illegally - an FIR has been lodged against them," he said, adding that he did not know why he had been sent to a police station outside his jurisdiction. He also did not know why the 11 men were being kept at the Artillery Maidan Police Station, even though an FIR against them had been lodged at the Preedy Police Station.
In the meantime, the 11 men in custody seemed to try to make the best of the situation. Every 15 minutes or so, they'd break out into anti-State, anti-Musharraf and anti-imperialism slogans. The evergreen 'Lathi goli ki sarkar...' was interspersed with 'Samraj! Murdabad!' (Down with Imperialism), and similar outbursts, which irritated the higher police officials and amused the lower officials. "We thought the lockup would make them quiet, but they're having fun even here," one official patrolling the grounds around the cell said, laughing. A mock meeting was called up with APTUF's Farid Awan in chair, and it was "decided" that the 11 comrades-in-arms would "continue the struggle for democracy, come what may".
'We're fine either way. When we left home for the protest in the morning, we were prepared for arrests,' they said when they were informed that they might have to spend the weekend in jail. 'Just make sure that they provide water in the restroom, and put up two fans outside the door of our cell. Everything else is okay.' urooj zia
[End]
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CMKP leads Lawyers protest in Islamabad
The CMKP's Rawalpindi/Islamabad district participated with its full strength in the protest called by the lawyers on Saturday, 29th of September in order to siege the election commission's office.
An emergency meeting of the district committee (DC) was held on Wednesday, 26th of September in which it was decided that it was compulsory for all district members to participate in this protest. Everyone agreed to meet outside GEO television's office and then proceed to the protest as a group along with other leftist parties and some lawyers.
On the day of the protest the group of carders coming from Rawalpindi which included comrade sikandar, comrade talal, comrade fahad, comrade waleed, comrade taimoor could not reach the geo office on time as all the roads leading to Islamabad were blocked by barricades and limited amount of traffic was allowed to pass through. But the Rawalpindi comrades despite these barricades and road blocks managed to reach the constitutional avenue only to find out that it was blocked by heavy contingents of police and rangers!
The CMKP carders joined the handful of lawyers who were denied entrance to the Supreme Court. The carders started chanting anti government slogans which charged up the lawyers and in no time were we along with the lawyers able to break the barricades and push through the heavy contingent of police. The police in return started baton charging the lawyers along with our party carders. This infuriated us even further and we started pelting stones at the policemen. A few lawyers indulged in hand to hand combat with the policemen. The police seeing our reaction pulled back and all of us marched towards the Supreme Court. There we were greeted by a huge number of lawyers who had already made it to the Supreme Court.
We met other party comrades who had already made it to the Supreme Court. People who had made it to the Supreme Court before us were comrade zahoor, comrade nazish, comrade munir, comrade liaqat and comrade stalin (of kasoor party). Comrade zahoor informed us that a fierce battle had already occurred between the police and the lawyers and carders of the CMKP had already been severally baton charged and comrade nazish along with some other leftist friends had been arrested by the police.
This news however did not demoralize us and we became even more charged up. We joined the lawyers who were protesting outside the election commission's office (the election commission office is right in front of the Supreme Court). The carders of CMKP starting chanting slogans and the lawyers joined them. We took out our huge banner which said 'fuaji aamreeat namanzoor' which translated in English means 'down with military dictatorship'. We were the ONLY political party present at the occasion. The lawyers welcomed our slogans and our banner and EVERYONE; the lawyers, the students, people from various organizations gathered behind it. We did not even need to hold our banner as the lawyers and other activists volunteered to hold our banner and they requested us to lead the slogans.
We started marching towards the election commission's office from the Supreme Court behind our banner. We were leading the anti government slogans and the lawyers were responding with great enthusiasm. When the police saw us proceeding towards the election commission started to baton charge us. We however did not retreat and decided to respond. We snatched away their sticks, a few lawyers who were carrying black flags took out the sticks from the flag and we started beating up the police with our own sticks. Other lawyers indulged in a hand to hand combat with the police. Lawyers who were a little behind started throwing stones at the police. The police responded by throwing stones at us. During this battle prominent lawyer atezaz ashen who was participating with us side by side was hit by a stone and he fell on the ground. The police charge towards him and started beating him up but the lawyers pushed back the police and he was surrounded by a wall of lawyers who were then beaten up by the police. This infuriated us even more and we leaped at the police men with greater anger. We were then able to pull the SP (who was spear heading the baton charge against the lawyer) towards us and started beating him up. The police on seeing the situation getting out of control fired tear gas at us. Dozens of tear gas shells were fired at us. Moreover, the police also resorted to aerial firing after which we had to disperse. We took shelter inside the Supreme Court.
After sometime we again went outside and similar battle took place between us and the police. The police again resorted to shelling and stoning after which we had to retreat to the Supreme Court along with the lawyers. During this a policeman targeted our DC president comrade munir and threw stones at him with full force. Comrade Munir sustained several injuries on his feet and legs. But he was able to make it to the Supreme Court.
Inside the Supreme Court we were complemented by various senior lawyers and journalists. Asma Jehangir, a senior lawyer and chairperson of human rights commission of Pakistan complemented out efforts and invited us to meet her in person. We also had the opportunity of meeting atezaz ahesan who again complemented us and said that he was very glad to see young people in a communist party. He then patted on the back of one of our comrade and said loudly to all the lawyers present that these are people who are here without any selfish interest. He continued by saying that they are people who have a dream which goes beyond the restoration of democracy and I salute these people. He then recited a few lines from his poem which he had written for Lenin and Che. He also invited us to meet him in person and we exchanged contacts.
Liaqat baloch, a leader of MMA was also present on the occasion and comrade sikandar, secretary of Rawalpindi/Islamabad district confronted him and questioned him that on the one hand MMA always claimed to be fighting for "democracy" and today he had failed to mobilize a single person of his party! He responded by saying that no other party has come and the lawyers didn't give a call for protest. On this comrade sikandar replied that if the lawyers had not given a call how come the entire CKMP was at the Supreme Court. Liaqat baloch could not answer this and he walked away after which comrade sikandar briefly addressed the lawyers present that CMKP was the only political party who had stood in this testing time with the lawyers. He assured them that our party has and will continue to stand with the lawyers. The lawyers welcomed this move and many young lawyers and students approached us to inquire about our party.
At about 3pm in the evening the lawyers ended the demonstration. We also decided to call it a day but then we came to know that the journalists were holding a demonstration in front of press club against today's inhuman treatment of lawyers and journalists. All our comrades most of who were limping are barely able to walk as a result of the baton charge and stoning decided to go to the protest. We immediately prepared play cards to carry on the protest. But when we reached press club we found out that the protest had been postponed till Sunday.
A bit disappointed on the cancellation of the protest but on the whole very happy, satisfied and a bit injured out enthusiastic and determined comrades returned home. Overall it has been a terrific and very productive day for the CMKP. Not only have we been able to penetrate deeply into the lawyers movement, we are not in contact with their very top leadership.
So over all the day was a HUGE success and hopefully. The CMKP despite being baton charged, stoned and tear gased will never bow down to the dictators. We will continue to fight the brutality until it ceases to exist. We won't rest till we've sent the army back to it's barracks. Every single member of the CMKP is ready to lay down its life for the cause!!! And as bhagat singh said :
"Sarfaroshi ki tamana aab humaray dil mein hai;
Dekhna hai zor kita bazoay qatil mein hai!"
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Today dated 29 Sept in the city of beast and boars, Peoples movement for Justice ( KMJ) activist in Karachi arrested by state protect terorizing element means Police, MOTHER PEDER AZAD gunday.
in demonstrators , Dr Riaz Ahmed, Ali Hassan ,Ali Yawar (International Socialist), Raheel Iqbal (Peoples Party Pakistan) , Manzoor razi (Railway Union) Asad Butt HRCP ,Freed Awan Trdae Unionist and others arrested by the Tazeerat Pakistan TP,,artcle # 147, 148 186 and 427 FIR number 551 Parady Police station but demonstrators were keep in lock up in Arterlary Maidaan Police station with out verifing and unlawful act by the police. they are near Election commision high court Sindh at 11:45 am. they were demands removal of General Mussaraf Wardi Wala NOOOOOOO,,,Namanzoor. infront of Election Commision the demonstrators were chant slogan against Imperialism and state protect terrorism in Pakistan and in Karachi perticular.
so all civil society and all left political activist and Parties comdmed the act of State.
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Black Day Observed in Pakistan
CMKP actively participates
Karachi, Sept 29: On the occasion of countrywide Black Day by the Pakistan Bar Council against the nomination of General Musharraf to contest the election for the office of the President third time violating the constitution of Pakistan, leaders and workers of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP) fully participated in the peaceful rallies of the lawyers community in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Karachi. Some of the CMKP members were baton charged and arrested in Islamabad.
The Central Secretariat of the CMKP in an emergent meeting presided over by General Secretary Ejaz Ghani, expressed CMKP's solidarity with the lawyers waging struggle for the democratic spirit of Constitution being distorted by military-led government under General Musharraf. It demanded the release of all such detained people, including CMKP workers without further loss of time.
In Karachi the People's Movement for Justice composed of Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP), Socialist Party, People's Labour Bureau, Human Rights Commission Karachi Chapter, Socialist International and others held a peaceful rally in front of the Sindh Election Commission. The peaceful demonstration was lathicharged by brutal police force for no reason and several were also arrested. The participants pledged to continue the struggle against military direct or indirect intervention in political affairs, resisting the nomination of General Musharraf to contest presidential election third time in uniform.
It also strongly condemned the savage act of the Islamabad police who resorted to lathicharge against the lawyers, media men, political activists and other organizations holding peaceful demonstration before the Chief Election Office. It termed the police assault and arrest of political activists and others as the law of jungle that unmasked General Musharraf's hallow slogans of "enlightened moderation".
CMKP Central Secretariat expressed its obligations to show solidarity of the CMKP with the lawyers community for just cause by participation of its leaders and workers in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Karachi. He demanded immediate release of all the people under police custody and punishment for those police officials and personnel who exhibited savagery.
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(ISLAMABAD - 29TH SEPTEMBER 2007) The Central Chairman of the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP), Engineer Jameel Ahmad Malik has strongly condemned the brutality upon the lawyers and journalists on the Constitution Avenue today by the Islamabad police on the direct instructions of the preacher of the enlightened and moderation policy holders.
CPP also protested on the arrest of Ali Ahmad Kurd and other political activists and lawyers, who were leading a peaceful procession for lodging a protest against the nomination papers of Pakistani Army General, who is contesting for the top slot of the President ship of the country.
Engineer Jameel said that he is deeply shocked to see that how an eminent and top jurist and former Federal Interior and Law Minister Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, lawyers and a large numbers of journalists like Ibrahim of KTN and one foreigner was badly beaten and lathi charged by the Islamabad and Punjab Police.
He requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of all these unlawful arrests and lathi charged by the police on lawyers and journalists. CPP demanded an exemplary punishment to those, who are responsible for such an episode.
CPP Chairman fully support and express his solidarity with the Secretary General of PFUJ Mazhar Abbas. He also requested all the progressive and leftist journalists to vehemently support Mazhar Abbas for his bold and noble cause.
Engineer Jameel appreciated the bold decision of Mazhar Abbas to boycott today the Iftar Party and Dinner of the premier Shaukat Aziz, which was hosted by Aziz in the honour of Mazhar Abbas and others senior journalists.
The way a well known anchor of ARY TV, Asima Shirazi narrated that how his team members Faisal Hakim and his cameraman, who was performing their professional duties was badly beaten by police has moved every one into tears.
Communist Party expressed his sympathy and solidarity with all the journalists, lawyers' community and political activists. Engineer Jameel lauded their struggle for the noble and just cause of democracy.
CPP Chairman said that today incident has made one thing very clear that Election Commission of Pakistan is highly partial and the Chief Election Commissioner has lost all of his credibility for free and fair elections in Pakistan.
Engineer Jameel immediately demanded the Government for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner.
Dear all,
After the new arrest of Farooq and other comrades:
1. ESSF is relaunching the international defense campaing for the release of Farooq Tariq and other political detainees.
Last May-June, 451 signatures were already collected. See the original call and the list of signatures at:
http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article6363
Additional signatures can be sent to:
Pierre.Rousset at ras.eu.org
2. We are also publishing on ESSF website reactions and messages after the latest arrest. See:
http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article7581
This page is very incomplete.
If you wish your stand (or stands you know of) to be added to this web page, please send them to me too.
In solidarity,
Pierre Rousset
Le 29 sept. 07 à 02:56, Peter Boyle a écrit :
Dear Comrades
In Australia we are campaigning through fax/email letters of protest
over the latest detention of Labour Party Pakistan general secretary
Farooq Tariq and 10 other members of the LPP to the Pakistan High
Commission in Australia.
It is an outrage that Comrade Farooq Tariq and 10 other LPP members
were arrested along with him after participating in a lawyers'protest
rally against General Musharraf's bid for a second presidential term
on Thursday September 27, 2007 outside Lahore High Court. It is an
even greater outrage that these comrades have now been charged under
the Terrorist Act!
Farooq Tariq had been invited as a keynote guest speaker to the Latin
America-Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum to be held in
Melbourne on October 11-14, 2007. See <http://solidarityforum2007.org/>
There will be guest speakers from all over the world at that
conference and they will undoubtedly be adding their voices of protest
at the detention of Farooq Tariq.
Regards
Peter Boyle
National Secretary
Democratic Socialist Perspective (DSP)
Australia
* * *
Copy of open letter to President Musharraf:
President Pervez Musharraf
c/- Pakistan High Commission to Australia
PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607
parepcanberra at internode.on.net
Fax: 61-2-62901073
cc Minister of Interior
minister at interior.gov.pk
Dear President Pervez Musharraf
I write on behalf of the Democratic Socialist Perspective in Australia
to strongly condemn the latest arrest and detention of Labour Party
Pakistan General Secretary Farooq Tariq on Thursday September 27, 2007
outside Lahore High Court, and to demand his immediate release and the
release of the 10 other members of his party who were arrested along
with him.
Farooq Tariq has been a prominent leader of the ongoing campaign for
democracy in Pakistan and this is the third time in last three months
that he has been detained.
Farooq Tariq had been invited as a keynote guest speaker to the Latin
America-Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum to be held in
Melbourne on October 11-14, 2007. There will be prominent guests from
all over the world at that conference and they will undoubtedly be
adding their voices of protest at the detention of Farooq Tariq.
Yours sincerely
Peter Boyle
National Secretary Democratic Socialist Perspective
23 Abercrombie Street
Chippendale
NSW 2008
Australia
Pierre Rousset
Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF)
http://www.europe-solidaire.org
Pierre.Rousset at ras.eu.org
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Farooq Tariq sent to jail
Lahore: 28 September 07: The Anti Terrorist Court, Friday, rejected the petitions of Farooq Tariq, and 10 other LPP comrades, challenging the case registered against them under Anti Terrorist Act (ATA). A team of senior Supreme Court and High court lawyers, including Rabeyya Bajwa advocate, Nisar Butt advocate and Nisar Safdar advocate, led By Asma Jehangir appeared before the court to defend Farooq Tariq and other party comrades.
Asma Jehangir told the court that it is a baseless case against the LPP members just to terrorize the working class activists to stop them exercising their lawful right to protest. The Police have involved them in concocted case, therefore they should be released, she argued. But court did not entertain her argument and order to send Farooq Tariq and 10 LPP members to Camp jail Lahore for seven days.
After this order the LPP members present in court premises raised slogans of Shame Shame and go Mushraf go against General Mushraf and military Junta for illegal cases registered against political workers. Meanwhile LPP has announced countrywide protests from Saturday for the release of farooq Tariq and other party comrades.
For the release of Farooq Tariq, and other party comrades, please send your protest letters to:
1-General Pervez Musharraf
President of Pakistan
President House
Constitution House
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
Email:http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx
2-Mr. Shaukat Aziz
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister Secretariat
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad, Pakistan
Email: primeminister at pak.gov.pk
3-Mr Pervez Elahi
Chief Minister Punjab
Chief Minister House
Lahore, Pakistan
Email: http://www.chpervaizelahi.com/writemsg.asp
4-Lt General Khalid Maqbool
Governor Punjab
Governor House
Lahore, Pakistan
Fax: +92 42 9200023
Email: governor.sectt at punjab.gov.pk
Comradely,
Khaliq Shah
On behalf of Labor Party Pakistan
Ph: 0321-9402325
Dear All,
It is hereby inform you that Labour Party Pakistan general secratry Farooq Tariq and twenty other activists have been arrested by the lahore police on sep 27 just after a demonstration orgnized by Lahore Bar Association,LPP and other civil sociaty orgnization.The demo was orgnized on the call of Pakistan Bar Concil against the ellegal and immoral presidentiol reelection of gen Parveez Mushrif.Before this election thousand of political activest have been arrested all around the country in recent few days.Labour Party Pakistan played a vital role in past Lawyers movement for the restorstion of chief justice of Pakistan.Labour Party Pakistan Chairperson Nisar Shah Advocate announced that LPP will continue our struggle against Mushrif
milltry regime.Nisar Shah strongly codemn the illegal harrasment of Farooq Tariq and thousnds other political activist,he appealed to all comrades and HR activists to send their protest e-mail to the government of Pakistan on this issue.
Nisar Shah,
Chairperson Labour Party Pakistan,
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Workers and civil society organizations joined hands with Advocates Movement for justice and democracy against Musharraf military regime in a protest rally from Lahore High Court to Charing Cross on 27th September 07
http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKISL27846120070930
Pakistani journalists protest police "brutality"
Sun Sep 30, 2007 4:12pm BST
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[-] Text [+] ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Pakistani journalists protested on Sunday against police violence against colleagues covering a protest against President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad a day earlier.
About 400 journalists and human right activists chanted anti-government slogans and condemned police "brutality" as they marched from a press club in Islamabad to the parliament building.
More than a dozen lawyers, several journalists and a cabinet minister were injured in clashes on Saturday outside the Election Commission, where Musharraf's nomination was accepted for a vote on Oct. 6, which is expected to secure him a fresh term.
Police launched a baton charge and fired tear gas to disperse black-suited lawyers and opposition activists, who have been at the vanguard of a pro-democracy movement.
"They want to snatch our freedom which is unacceptable. We'll fight, we'll fight for our independence and freedom," Mazhar Abbas, president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), told the marchers.
Similar rallies in support of press freedom were held in other cities including Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, as well as tribal areas where the army is fighting pro-Taliban militants.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Sunday ordered Islamabad's top administration and police officials to provide explanations to the Supreme Court on Monday to explain why force was used against lawyers and journalists.
The Supreme Court dismissed on Friday challenges to General Musharraf's bid to seek re-election while still army chief, removing a major obstacle to his securing another term.
Opposition parties say they will resign their seats before the presidential vote, even though Musharraf has vowed to quit the army, his main source of power, if he wins.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C10%5C01%5Cstory_1-10-2007_pg13_5
Lawyers plan major protest on The Mall today
* To sit-in at Regal Chowk, boycott courts against 'police brutality'
LAHORE: Lawyers will rally on The Mall today (Monday) to protest the police action initiated against them across the country on Saturday. Lawyers will also boycott court proceedings for most of the day.
The National Action Committee, which has been set up by lawyers, met on Sunday and decided to go ahead with the demonstration.
Lahore Bar Association (LBA) president Sayyed Muhammad Shah told Daily Times that he had announced a full-day boycott of courts. He said that after the general house meeting, LBA lawyers would rally from Aiwan-e-Adal and march to GPO Chowk.
He said lawyers would wear black armbands and hoist black flags on their bar buildings.
Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) secretary Sarfaraz Cheema said that after the general house meeting, LHCBA lawyers would merge with the LBA rally at GPO Chowk and march to Regal Chowk where they stage a sit-in and protest against the police. However, Cheema said the LHCBA would boycott court proceedings after 10:00am.
The LBA president asked journalists, NGOs and all political parties to take part in the rally. He criticised the government, alleging that the police was resorting to violence to stop lawyers from demonstrating. He said that faced with such brutality, lawyers would not remain peaceful during demonstrations.
Shamsa Gohar, vice president of lawyers belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (Lahore chapter), said the lawyers were united and would not allow President Pervez Musharraf's regime to continue ruling the country. She denounced Saturday's police action against the lawyers. She said the lawyers' movement could not be suppressed by force. She said the movement would continue till Musharraf's regime came to an end. Shamsa also denounced the Election Commission of Pakistan for accepting the nomination papers of a serving army general to contest the presidential elections.
LHCBA vice president Firdaus Butt said the Supreme Court decision favouring Musharraf had encouraged lawyers to struggle harder against him.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/296750.html
Protest by Pakistani lawyers over candidacy becomes violent
The Washington Post
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan | Police in riot gear attacked lawyers and journalists with batons, tear gas and rocks in a running battle Saturday at the gates of the Supreme Court.
The clash came a day after judges ruled that President Gen. Pervez Musharraf can stand for another term.
About 200 lawyers tried to march from the Supreme Court to the Election Commission to protest Musharraf's candidacy. They were vastly outnumbered by security forces, who charged into the crowd swinging metal-tipped sticks. The lawyers fought back, and a melee ensued in which more than 40 people were injured.
Police chased the lawyers onto the grounds of the Supreme Court, which was shrouded in a haze of tear gas much of the day. One protester was beaten as he tried to retreat into the court building. After he collapsed, uniformed officers continued to thrash him with sticks.
Private television stations that had been broadcasting live coverage of the protests were taken off the air. When Pakistani journalists tried to enter the Election Commission, they, too, were attacked by police. At least six were injured.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2180471,00.html
Musharraf's re-election attempt sparks riot
Associated Press
Sunday September 30, 2007
The Observer
Riot police fired tear gas and used batons on protesting lawyers as Pakistan's Election Commission rejected opposition to President General Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid.
A day after the Supreme Court quashed legal challenges to Musharraf's candidacy, the commission approved his nomination, a senior official said on condition of anonymity. The commission approved only five of the 43 candidates, including Musharraf's two main challengers: Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge nominated by lawyers, and Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the official said.
Clashes continued for more than two hours. Several journalists were beaten by police. Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim was pummelled by protesters when he arrived. He was rushed into a car and driven away. Lawyers also rallied in Lahore and Karachi, where police arrested some and beat others.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan30sep30,1,945421.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true
Pakistani protest turns violent
M.K. Chaudhry / EPA
Lawyers were among the hundreds who demonstrated in Multan.
Dozens are reported injured as police beat back demonstrators upset by Musharraf's bid to win reelection without giving up his army post.
By Laura King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 30, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - In a stone-throwing melee in the heart of Pakistan's capital, riot police Saturday fired tear gas and beat lawyers and human rights activists protesting President Pervez Musharraf's plans to have himself reelected while serving as chief of the military.
Dozens of people were reported injured in the daylong clashes, which marked an escalation in the political tensions that have roiled Pakistan for months as a nationwide grass-roots movement to oust Musharraf has gained strength. Until now, even very large anti-government protests were mainly peaceful.
Clash
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The violence came as Pakistan's Election Commission gave its seal of approval Saturday to Musharraf's bid to secure a new five-year term in a vote by outgoing national and provincial lawmakers next Saturday, an election he is almost certain to win.
A day earlier, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Musharraf's reelection by dismissing legal challenges to his running for office without giving up his military post. The general has pledged to give up his uniform after he is reelected but before he is inaugurated.
The high court had left the door open to Musharraf's disqualification by the Election Commission, but that body, which was handpicked by the Pakistani leader, formally accepted his candidacy.
Musharraf seized power in a coup eight years ago, and after the Sept. 11 attacks became a key U.S. ally against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
But his prestige and popularity have been greatly diminished in recent months.
During Saturday's clashes between police and hundreds of protesters, clouds of tear gas rose above the capital's broad, tree-lined Constitution Avenue. At one point, tear-gas canisters landed inside the manicured grounds of the Supreme Court complex.
Across the street, outside the Election Commission building, some of the protesting lawyers wielded wooden staves to battle police, their black coats and neckties flapping. Lawyers have taken the lead in the anti-Musharraf movement since March, when the general tried to dismiss Pakistan's respected chief justice.
More than 1,000 police and paramilitary troops were deployed in and around the court complex and the Election Commission building.
"This is the face of martial law," declared lawyer Hamid Khan, who represented cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan in court challenges to Musharraf's eligibility to seek reelection.
"We don't accept this election process at all. How can it be fair when one candidate has a uniform and a gun?"
The injured included protesters and journalists, who said police beat everyone in the area.
A senior government official, Tariq Azim, the state minister for information, was roughed up by the crowd outside the Election Commission building. Authorities said at least a dozen police officers were hurt.
Some of the protesters threw stones at police; some police officers picked up the rocks and hurled them back.
Asma Jahangir, a veteran lawyer and human rights activist, was hit by a stone she said was thrown by a policeman.
"The government had planned beforehand to teach the lawyers a lesson," said Jahangir, whose long white stole was stained with blood. "I saw them specifically pointing to particular lawyers and then beating them up."
Some analysts predicted more unrest, not only surrounding the vote for president by the national and provincial assemblies, but also in advance of general elections for those bodies that are to take place by mid-January.
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said she will return from self-imposed exile to lead her party in that contest, but her camp is still engaged in power-sharing talks with Musharraf.
Another potentially important player in the general elections, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was deported this month by Musharraf's government when he tried to return after seven years of exile.
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