APHR demands govt lift emergency, release political activists
PESHAWAR: The Alliance for the Protection of Human Rights (APHR), a civil society organisation, demanded on Tuesday that the government lift the emergency, restore the Constitution and release all political prisoners.
The APHR demands came when civil society organisations assembled at the Peshawar Press Club for consultations to formulate a strategy to mobilise diverse segments of the society for a movement against the present state of affairs in the country. Politicians, former members of the provincial assembly, lawyers, journalists and people from all walks of life attended the programme.
In its unanimously passed resolution, the APHR comprising of the Aurat Foundation, the Human Rights Management and Development Commission (HRMDC), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Shirkat Gah, Khwendo Kor, Noor Education Trust, the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) and Sungi Foundation deuianded the government reinstate judges, hold transparent elections and halt operations in Swat and Waziristan.
The APHR also called on the army to go back to the barracks. Haji Muhammad Adeel, Awami National Party (ANP) central additional secretary general, assured the participants that the ANP would side with all democratic forces in their “antiÂgovernment war”. He lashed out at the judges who had taken oath under the current circumstances and demanded restoration of the Constitution and reinstatement of judges.
Bushra Gohar, a member of the HRMDC, said the president had imposed the state of emergency to secure his rule. “Asma Jehangir and Ehtizaz Ahsan are not terrorists. Why have they been put behind bars?” she asked.
Bushra condemned the news blackout, saying that the suspension of the Constitution was not acceptable to them. “I resign from all government committees and boards,” she said while demanding the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, formation of a national consensus government and holding of free and fair elections. “We need to run a campaign against the current situation and are launching this campaign from today,” said Bushra.
Former ANP MPA Farah Aqil Shah said the government had claimed that it had enforced the emergency to curb terrorism in the country, adding, “But terrorism is not under control and it’s growing further.”
Aurat Foundation Resident Director Rukhshanda Naz said civil society organisations wanted the public to join them in their movement. APHR Vice President Kamran Arif said only the Constitution, independent judiciary and free media could guarantee fundamental rights. He said the NG0s would jointly design a strategy about how to launch protests against dictatorship. He also asked people to support bar councils.
Journalist Shamim Shahid urged the nation to launch and join the agitation like people did against the previous martial law regimes. He assured civil society organisations of the cooperation of the journalist community.
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/14/2007
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