LAHORE: At least 18 parliamentarians from nine countries, including Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Tunis, Germany and Denmark, have signed an international appeal “Justice for Baba Jan” demanding the government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to withdraw cases against Baba Jan and his colleagues.

This was claimed by Awami Workers Party spokesperson Farooq Tariq who had launched the appeal.

The international petition has also been signed by 426 prominent individuals from 49 countries, he added. Prominent among these signatories are Noam Chomsky, Samir Amin, Gelbert Archcar and Luciana Genro (former senator and presidential candidate of Brazil), Philippe Pouto (NPA candidate for president in recently held elections in France).

Baba Jan, AWP activist in GB, is serving life term along with 12 others in Gahkooch prison on charges of rioting and organising ‘illegal’ rallies in 2010 to seek better compensation for victims of Attabad lake. The lake came into being after a landslide blocked the river bed.

The petition demands the GB government to withdraw its appeal in the Supreme Court against acquittal of Baba Jan by the GB High Court.

It also seeks publication of the judicial commission report on the incident and implementation its recommendations.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017