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| May 26, 2005 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
Amnesty slams Pakistan’s human rights record
KARACHI, May 25: The Amnesty International in its annual report released on Wednesday slammed Pakistan’s human rights record; citing arbitrary arrests and detentions, disappearances and possible extrajudicial executions in the context of ‘war on terror’.
The Report 2005, covering the period from January to December 2004, was formally released by the Karachi chapter of the Amnesty International at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club.
The report points out government’s failure to control sectarian violence which cost hundreds of lives. Dr Habiba Hassan, former member, International Executive Committee of Amnesty International, and Iqbal Detho, secretary general AIP, highlighted the salient features of the report.
According to the report, political role of the military was consolidated when the National Security Council was set up in April by an act of parliament. Headed by Gen Pervez Musharraf, and with eight government representatives and five representatives of the army as its members, it was given a consultative role in security matters.
SECURITY OPERATIONS: Security operations continued throughout 2004 in tribal areas, which are not accessible to journalists and other observers.
In March, arbitrary arrests and detentions and possible extrajudicial executions were reported in South Waziristan.
On March 26, bodies of eight members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps were found with their heads bound behind their backs, apparently shot at point blank range. Opposition fighters had detained the men four days earlier during an attack on a convoy.
Scores of people were arrested during demonstrations or for allegedly belonging to banned organizations. Most were released after several hours but some were held for prolonged periods in arbitrary and incommunicado detention. Some remained “disappeared” for longer periods despite families’ efforts to trace them through the courts.
Several journalists were held incommunicado for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Khawar Medhi Rizvi was arrested on Dec 16, 2003 in Karachi along with two French journalists on their return from Balochistan. In January the French journalists received suspended sentences under the Foreigners Act for travelling to the area without official clearance. However, government authorities repeatedly denied holding Khawar Medhi Rizvi. He was brought before a court in Quetta on Jan 26 and charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy for allegedly assisting in the preparation of a documentary falsifying events in the region.
The trial had not concluded by the end of 2004. Similarly, several people suspected of links to “terrorist” organizations who “disappeared” were non-Pakistanis.
At least 25 people were criminally charged with blasphemy and six of them remained in detention at the end of 2004. Hostility to anyone charged with blasphemy endangered their lives. The govt did not take adequate measures to prevent attacks on religious congregations. In the month of October alone, some 80 people died in sectarian violence.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: According to the report, violence against women in the community, including crimes of “honour”, continued to be reported. The HRCP reported that in 2003 more than 600 women had been killed for alleged breaches of “honour”. Many cases went unreported and victims included very young girls.
Implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO) of 2000 was inadequate, so that juveniles continued to be held and tried along with adults. In April, the relevant minister said that plans had been made to ensure implementation.
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