HRCP expresses support for the Long March

Press Statement, 6 June 2008

 

Karachi: Co-Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Senator (R) Iqbal Haider, has expressed wholehearted support of HRCP to the lawyers movement for restoration of the judges, independence of judiciary & rule of law. He has assured the lawyers community of participation of HRCP, its office bearers & members in the “Long March” of the lawyers from Multan to Islamabad, for achievement of the said noble causes, which are imperative for the protection of the human rights and national interest.

 

Mr. Haider stated that there is no tenable reason or justification for connecting the restoration of the judges of the superior courts and their Chief Justices with the Constitutional Package.

 

Mr. Haider emphasised that the delay in restoration of the judges as was committed by the Shaheed Chairperson, Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto as well as in the Murree Declaration, is not in the interest of the country or of the ruling coalition parties, because this delay is promoting unrest and uncertainty in the country and jeopardizing & harming functioning, image and credibility of the Federal Government and its coalition parties. The Government should realize the importance of this issue and the earlier the judges are restored unconditionally, the better it would be for the coalition partners in the Government, as well as in the interest of the people.

 

Senator (R) Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson

HRCP strongly condemns police violence on a peaceful demonstration at Justice Rana Bhagwandas residence

PRESS RELEASE, January 14, 2008

Karachi: In a joint statement issued to the press Mr. Iqbal Haider, Secretary General, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Ms. Zohra Yusuf, Vice Chairperson, HRCP strongly condemned the police violence against peaceful demonstrators, gathered outside the residence of Justice (R) Rana Bhagwandas, to launch their protest against his undeclared house-arrest.

It was shocking to note that, violating all norms of decency, male policemen misbehaved with women demonstrators, baton-charged male activists and arrested 08 of them.

On the evening of January 13, 2008, protesters belonging to civil society groups gathered outside the residence of Justice (R) Rana Bhagwandas situated in Block-A, in the Clifton police’s jurisdiction and started lighting candles to symbolize their protest. In the meantime, a heavy contingent of police reached the spot. Suddenly, all the streetlights were switched off and police arrested 8 civil society activists, including Mr. Kamran Noorani, Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed, Mr. Naveed Noshad, Mr. Danish, Mr. Muhammad Faisal, Mr. Syed Mustafa Rizvi, Mr. Zafar Aslam and Mr. Asad Umar. They were thrown into the waiting police mobile vans after a brief scuffle with women protesters. They were taken to Darakhshan Police Station while an FIR # 13 / 08 was registered in Clifton Police Station U/S 147 and 148. After five hours of detention, all were released on bail on personal bonds.

HRCP holds the provincial authorities fully responsible for the brutal police action against peaceful demonstrators.

HRCP demands that all politically motivated cases be withdrawn, against the activists of civil society who were exercising a democratic right through peaceful means.

Iqbal Haider
Secretary General
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

Zohra Yusuf
Vice Chairperson, Sindh
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

HRCP condemns the Lahore outrage

Press release

Lahore, January 10: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is outraged at the ghastly killing of nearly two dozen people, most of them policemen, in an explosion outside the Lahore High Court today (Thursday). The Commission shares the grief of the bereaved families and is shocked at the loss of so many policemen who fell victim to a situation for which their employers must accept increasing responsibility. Grievous though the heavy loss of life is perhaps an equally grave matter is the questions the incident raises, especially in the context of the October 18-19 carnage in Karachi and the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto barely a fortnight ago. The target obviously was the procession of lawyers and they presumably escaped due to some delay in their arrival at the venue chosen for massacre. Who is gunning for lawyers and why? Or, whoever the culprits are, do they want to terrorise lawyers or political parties or the people in general? Do they want to sabotage elections? Are people being targeted across the country in retaliation for the so-called war against militants? Where does the administration stand now for it has lost all claim to capacity to curb the monster of terrorism. The authorities must answer these questions in a straightforward manner as cursory excuses and advice to the harried citizens to look after themselves will be adding insult to injury. If the regime lacks the means to protect the people’s lives, should it not seek expertise wherever it may be available? And If it lacks the will to do its primary duty it must not delay making way for a civilian government of national consensus.

Asma Jahangir
Chairperson