Emergency in Pakistan
Emergency in Pakistan
APL Resolution 10 Nov 2007
UK Lawyers jointly demand restoration of 1973 constitution forthwith by lifting emergency & gagging orders against media and restoration of civil rights and release of lawyers, judges and all those who are detained in the wake of 3rd November 2007 action.
Association of Pakistani Lawyers a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in UK jointly condemn imposition of emergency rule as well as suspension of the operation of Constitution of Pakistan 1973 by Chief of Army Staff and his collaborating executive force in Pakistan.APL had convened its emergency meeting of its executive on 6 November and issued a statement and The Executive Council approved the joint statement where APL have strongly protested against the curtailment of fundamental rights, the curbs on electronic and print media, attacks on independence of Judiciary, suspension of Constitution of 1973, arrests of judges, lawyers, human right activist and teachers and the Martial Law which has been imposed by General Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff.
APL make following demands of Musharraf regime by a resolution in their 10th of November meeting:
1. APL demands that emergency is lifted at once and operation of constitution is restored forthwith by restoring the function of SC with effect of 3rd Nov 2007 and PCO is withdrawn forthwith.
2. APL whilst welcoming the announcement of regime to hold elections before 15th of February 2007, APL demands that the military regime at once resort to civilian set up and Gen Musharraf separates his office from the office of the Chief of Army Staff as his promise and desires of the nation by taking his uniform off before the deadline of 15 Nov 2007 and giving charge to the Vice chief , and announce date of elections as per schedule, and appoint a neutral care set up to hold free and fair elections with consultation of all political parties.
3. APL declares that extremism can not be tackled with a derailed political process. There must be a full scale revival of a credible political process and as the current parliament comes to an end on 15th of November therefore a broad band national reconciliation must be initiated genuinely. National Govt is formed as an interim care taker set up including Nawaz Sharif, Be Nazir Bhuttoo, Fazal Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Imran Khan, Shujat Hussain, Altaf Hussain, Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed, Asfand Yar Wali, and Mehmood Khan Achakzai and they hold a broad band national reconciliation and take recommendation of all the stake holders as to how a credible election can take place. A date is announced of fresh general elections after that constitution & recommendations . Provincial care taker set ups and new chief election commissioner is appointed with consultation of all parties to hold free and fair elections forthwith within the time frame.
4. Freedom of all citizens enshrined in the Constitution must be restored along with the 1973 Constitution as winning hearts and minds must be a motto and govt must not to divert people to apathy and hopelessness. Ensure free press and electronic media freedom as in Pakistan education rate is so low that only this sort of media revolution can assist to form public opinion to vote in free polls to rid the politics of the dirty sleazy and feudal mind set, freedom of movement as well as intellectual stimulation must be preserved and ensured which is a pre requisite to national development.
5. APL has the following request to make to the Western World: APL requests the United Nations, European Union, United States, Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and all other international and national governmental and non governmental organizations to take notice of detained Supreme Court judges, lawyers, human rights activists and the gagging orders against electronic media and impress upon General Musharraf to lift all sanctions on the operation of constitution and restore civil rights, media freedom and liberty plus normalcy in the country, release all detained before, on or after 3rd November and allow the Supreme Court to function in accordance with the law and constitution. If they fail to make it clear strongly, we may miss the opportunity to have rule of law, justice and democracy in Pakistan for a long period to come therefore restoring the operation of constitution and law is prima facie matter of great importance for the people of Pakistan and if Western World is serious about democracy in that part of the world than befitting action is needed not a lip service and cosmetic statements. Lifting emergency is of utmost importance to allow people to make a fair choice in coming days.6. APL also discussed the situation in respect of forthcoming 12 th of Nov meeting of CMAG and jointly agreed that Commonwealth must not penalise Pakistani people in their 12th of November 2007 meeting by suspending the state as a member as suspension will have far reaching consequences for overseas Pakistanis but CMAG must ensure tight deadlines on undertakings to restore constitution, lifting sanctions on media, emergency, release of judges, free and fair elections and separating the office of the President from that of the office of COAS and emphasis must be placed on tight deadlines for actions towards the above requested actions from regime.
APL held a peaceful meeting of its executive & council on 10 November 2007 at APL Chambers to protest and made these representations to assist their fellow colleagues to restore rule of law, justice and operation of constitution in Pakistan.
APL commended the Supreme Court Bar Association delegation who were scheduled to attend this seminar already arranged and could not attend this event due to their detention. APL commended their work during Chief Justice’s struggle for independence of judiciary and gave a certificate of appreciation to the President of SCBA as well as those members of delegation who could not attend due to their detention.
Their names are as following:
1. Mr. Sahibzada Anwar Hamid
Vice President -2006-2007, Supreme Court Bar Association (Pakistan)
2. Mr. Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari
Secretary -2006-2007, Supreme Court Bar Association (Pakistan)
3. Mr. Khawaja Tariq Sohail
Member Executive Supreme Court Bar Association (Pakistan)
4. Mr. Muhammad Azhar Siddique
Media Advisor / coordinator 2007, Supreme Court Bar Association (Pakistan)
Presidential candidate Justice (rtd) Wajeeh uddin Ahmed briefed lawyers the current constitutional position, PML(N) President Mian Shehbaz Sharif expressed his view and his party policy regarding detained judges and Former Vice Chair Punjab Bar Council Azhar Ch Advocate updated the situation regarding detained lawyers and they addressed overseas lawyers via telephone. Ali Suleman Jafri of BBC updated lawyers regarding media sanctions and their response and Talat hussain of AAJ TV passed message to the chair expressing his concerns and views in respect of ordinance curbing freedom of press.APL prays that Lawyers, political workers, media and Civil society’s contribution is fruitful to bring Pakistan out of this constitutional crisis
Meeting was chaired by newly appointed chair Mr. Mohammed Rafiq who took charge of as APL Chair after serving 3 years as an assistant Secretary. Amjad Malik served at the top position for 3 years and APL appreciated his work for association, lawyers of both societies and in particular main British & Pakistani communities.
Signed By:
Mohammad Rafiq
Chairman 2007 onwards
Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Amjad Malik
Solicitor-Advocate
Vice Chair
Association of Pakistani Lawyers
VIDEOS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMbGGoVIUwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EsGQyFBHWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTDqED4Q_hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1TmPNZakN8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld7_gk0S6Eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeQLzqIFb4k
VOA Roundtable available only until 17 November 2007
http://www.voanews.com/urdu/radio/aapkidunyaa/roundtable.cfm
The program is preserved on our web site: urduvoa.com
Click on the 2nd tablet (Roundtables), then click on Aaj Ki Roundtable
and listen. The discussion will remain on web site until next
Monday 17th nov under the Day of Monday.
PRESS:
http://www.pridenews.co.uk/eng.story.php?b==&newsID=1204
http://www.pridenews.co.uk/eng.story.php?b=L2VuZy5uZXdzLmNhdGUucGhwP2NhdGVJRD0xMw===&newsID=1204
http://www.pridenews.co.uk/eng.story.php?b=L2VuZy5uZXdzLmNhdGUucGhwP2NhdGVJRD0xMw===&newsID=1158
- Posted by valiantpk on 10/11/2007.
- valiantpk's site
Please sign in or join etribes to add comments.
