Hundreds of activists arrested throughout Pakistan after Emergency declared by Gen. Musharraf

Chairperson HRCP Ms. Asma Jahangir is under house arrest for 90 days since the day Musharraf declared emergency situation in Pakistan.

Hundreds of lawyers were arrested by Police from Lahore High Court Bar room on November 5, 2007. They include a number of women. The lawyers faced the brutal force of police in both Lahore and Karachi, where hundreds of arrests were also made. Dozens of lawyers were injured as police burst into bar premises.

Many cases of violence by police have been reported at HRCP offices.

Civil Society of Pakistan in UK is protesting against the arrest of human rights activists in front of Pakistan High Commission in London today on November 5, 2007 at 2:00pm GMT . Hina Jilani, Vice-Chairperson, HRCP is leading the protest.

Arrest warrant of Ms. Hina Jilani Vice Chairperson HRCP has been issued but she is out of country.

All privately owned media channels remain blocked and a complete news blackout has persisted since the emergency.

STATE OF EMERGENCY – ♦ Pictures ♦ Videos ♦ List of Arrests ♦ Demonstrations ♦ Suspended Rights ♦ Press Releases, Calls for Action ♦ Letters to the President, Ambassadors, etc. ♦ Emails, Support, Feedback ♦

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Gen Musharraf’s second coup:Charge-sheet against judiciary; Media ‘promoting negativism’; Country’s ‘integrity at stake’; Legislatures intact

news article courtesy of DAWN newspaper – online edition

Gen Musharraf’s second coup : •Charge-sheet against judiciary •Media ‘promoting negativism’ •Country’s ‘integrity at stake’ •Legislatures intact

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: In what is a virtual martial law, President Pervez Musharraf, acting as army chief, on Saturday imposed a state of emergency throughout Pakistan, suspended the Constitution and replaced superior courts in a move that could put the country’s political future into disarray.In his proclamation of emergency, the general blamed growing violence by militants and a judiciary which he said was working at “cross purposes” with his government and the legislature for his most drastic action since he seized power in an October 12, 1999 coup.A Provisional Constitutional Order was also issued, putting the Constitution in ‘abeyance’ but saying the country would be “governed, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the Constitution” although seven of its articles relating to fundamental rights would remain suspended, and empowering the president to amend the document ‘as is deemed expedient’.The move, greeted with immediate condemnation at home by opposition parties, lawyers and human rights groups and concern from “war on terror” allies like the United States and Britain, came only 12 days before the expiration of General Musharraf’s presidency and the present assemblies and while an 11-judge bench of the Supreme Court was in a weekend recess in its hearing of challenges to his election for another five-year presidential term mainly on grounds of his army office.

Arrest of Activists at Peaceful Demonstration

Peaceful Demonstration in front of Election Commission of Pakistan building, Karachi on September 29, 2007 – the day of scrutiny of the nomination papers of General Musharraf

 

The Council Members of HRCP from Sindh on September 22, 2007, decided to join lawyers in protest rallies to express their resentment on September 29, 2007 – the day of scrutiny of the nomination papers of General Musharraf, and also motivate members of JAC and Peoples’ Movement for Justice, to take part in the demonstration.

The members of JAC and PMJ endorsed the decision of HRCP Sindh Council of taking part in the demonstration on September 29, 2007 at 11:00 am.

On September 29, 2007, at about 11:15 am, Council Members of HRCP Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt, Ms. Uzma Noorani, Mr. Amarnath Motumal and members of HRCP, JAC and PMJ started gathering outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Karachi within the jurisdiction of the Preedy Police Station, carrying banners and placards with anti-Musharraf slogans.

Ten minutes later, the police baton charged the crowd, pushed 11 of them into police mobiles and took them to the Artillery Maidan Police Station. Those arrested included: