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Dear all,
Hundreds of political and trade union activists have been detained
since June 5. In violation of all the legal norms, these activists
are kept in jails in bad conditions besides subjecting them to
mental torture.
A PPP worker died of heart attack in Kot Lakhpat jail on June
14. Among arrested is also Farooq Tariq, secretary general of
Labour Party Pakistan. Since the imposition of present military
rule, he has been arrested and jailed half a dozen times for his
struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Please send protest messages against Farooq Tariq and all the
activists' detention to:
•Musharraf at +92 51 922 1422 (fax) or via <http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx>
•Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at <primeminister@pak.gov.pk>.
•Pujub Chief Minister Pervez Elahi via <http://www.chpervaizelahi.com/writemsg.asp>.
•Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool at +92
42 9200023 (fax) or email <governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk>.
Dear Sir,
It is a matter of grave concern that Labour Party General Secretary
Mr. Farooq Tariq, a well-known activist for political social justice
both within Pakistan and internationally has been detained for
three months by the orders of Home Secretary Punjab. I understand
that the arrest was ordered to prevent Mr Farooq Tariq’s
participation in protests in support of Chief Justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry and against the state sanctions on media. This
is tantamount to denial of fundamental citizens’ rights.
I am further informed that hundreds of other social justice activists
have been arrested under similar circumstances.
Farooq Tariq has been the victim of very bad treatment at the
hands of prison authorities, in particular, psychological tortures
that may attain his mental stability. He and several other political
prisoners started a hunger strike in protest against this treatment.
These conditions of detention, ten to twelve prisoners in a cell
without food, water, sanitary facilities and high temperature,
are degrading, humiliating and a transgression of the human rights.
I strongly protest against the attitude of the Government of Pakistan
and its ministers towards political opponents.
I find the arrest of Mr. Tariq and the other protestors a gross
violation of their civic rights and responsibilities. I believe
the mass arrests undermine Pakistan’s international commitment
that advocates principles of freedom of political association,
freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. I call for the immediate
and unconditional release of Mr Farooq Tariq and others arrested
for their participation in the campaign to support Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Yours Sincerely,
...........................
The Labour Party Pakistan is updating the situation re detention
of Farooq tariq at its website (http://www.laborpakistan.org/)
in English while in urdu an update is available at the site of
Weekly Jeddojuhd (http://www.jeddojuhd.com/index.html)
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