Nonviolent Action Against Altaf Hussain on his Statement/demand for Division of Sindh

Memorandum to British High Commission presented by Sindhi writers Against Altaf Hussain 

Memorandum to BHC against Altaf Hussain

January 7, 2014 at 12:01am

His Excellency                                                                                                    6^thJanuary 2014

Deputy High Commissioner

The British Deputy High Commission, Karachi

 

Memorandum presented by “Sindh Writers and ThinkersForum” a representative Forum of writers and intellectuals of Sindh

His Excellency,

We, the writers and intellectuals of Sindh would like toexpress our serious concern on the recent speech of a British citizen Mr. AltafHussain. The venomous speech is a blatant assault on sovereignty of Sindh andPakistan. He has threatened division of Sindh and Pakistan in open words. Thisis not the first time that this British citizen has issued such statements. Mr.Hussain has continuously been issuing similar statements/speeches and has beenexpressing his disrespect for Sindh and Pakistan. He has also been incitingviolence in Pakistan through his inflammable speeches. Citizens of Pakistan andSindh take such speeches as an affront and strongly condemned such statements.

It is highly unfortunate that British Government has beencontinuously ignoring such attitude of its citizen who himself and his ethnic partyhas been involved in acts of terrorism. Notorious terrorists belonging to hisparty have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies and they have madestartling confessions of perpetrating acts of terrorism under the directives ofthe party leadership. It is surprising that while British Government is part ofglobal war against terrorism, its own citizen and his party is openly involvedin acts of terrorism and inciting violence publically. This silence of BritishGovernment is a matter of concern for the people of Pakistan. Citizens ofPakistan and Sindh would justifiably hold British Government responsible if Mr.Hussain and his party unleash a new wave of terror and bloodshed in Sindh.

Sindh Writers and Thinkers Forum-through your honorableoffice-demands from the British Government to take serious notice of the recentspeech of Altaf Hussain. It is constitutional and moral obligation of the British Government to take legal action against its citizen who is responsiblefor inciting violence and terrorism in Pakistan. On behalf of Sindh Writers and Thinkers Forum

PLIGHT OF A PERSON WHO LEAVES HIS/HER HOMELAND

During my recent trip, I got a chance to meet a fellow Pakistani, who left Pakistan due to threat to his life. He is from Swat Valley, exactly from the same city where Malala Yousifzai is from. He is neighbor of Malala and has been student of Malal’s father Zia ul Din Yousifzai, who taught him  human rights. According to him, most of his work was on child rights, women rights and freedom of expression. He assisted many international journalists in covering human rights stories in Swat. He has two daughters and a wife who is a working woman also support the cause of her husband. Currently, he is in another country of Asia and in need of support. According to him, there are few organizations like Jesuits Refugee Service (JRS) and Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Networks (APRRN) which are supporting him in getting access to shelter and legal aid services.

He told me that he has to leave Swat, Pakistan because of threat to his life due to his work on rights. However, the threat source is not known yet. In response to my question that now the improved situation in Swat offers him an opportunity to return back or improvement in his own security. He said the situation in Swat is normal for general people but for him threat still exists and the level of threat is still same, means high. He remembers the day in 201 when he was attacked by the militants and God saved him.

In response to my question that how does he feel there as a refugee? “It is very difficult to live alone, away from country, family, and friends. Only I know the plight of a refugee or a person who leaves his/her home. I have met with many Sri Lankans, Pakistani, Cambodian, Palestinians and people from Myanmar, Somalia and other countries. These people have left their countries due to war, conflict and other reasons. They are with their families and children and living a very difficult lives. Thanks to NGOs like APRRN, JRS and other networks who support them. Challenges are enormous, needs are high, response is limited.” According to him, all refugees have tied their hopes with UNHCR’s decisions. They cannot go back to their countries because of challenging and threatening conditions.

He is out of his country, since last six years. He longs to meet his parents, wife, daughters (7 years A and 6 years S) and two brothers and two loving sisters but circumstances do not allow him. He is living on a hope that someday he will get a refugee status  or will return to his country if his threat will be reduced or eliminated. However, the chances of reduction or elimination of threat are minimum. When I asked him what are challenges for Pakistanis who leaves a country due to threat to his/her life because of his/her work on human rights? One unfortunate aspect, he shares is that Pakistani community is divided abroad so one channel of support to one community is not ready to assist other community or individual who belong to other community, sect etc. Second, a Pakistan, as compare to other, faces more challenges because host community is more scared of a Pakistani. NGOs and other support mechanism does not trust easily.

What is your message for others?

He said: Live in harmony, peace and unity inside country. Does not support violence and play strong role in promotion and protection of human rights. Please educate your children and do not discriminate against women. We all are Pakistanis and we all have equal rights and protections. If we are divided, we are weak and no one will respect us. I request Pakistani state to ratify Refugees Convention on 1951 and request all Pakistanis to respect, support, love those who are displaced from their countries and have sought refuge in our country. I also request other nations to support us to get out of this mess, end violence, war in Pakistan and terrorism. We are not terrorist; we ourselves are victim of terrorism. Please help us educate children, our youth,

I would also like to share with the world that we Pakistanis have been host of millions of refugees, even without ratifying refugee convention. We shared their sorrows and offered them support. We also want respect and support from other nations. 

یہ صرف پاکستان میں ہی ہوتا ہے

یہ صرف پاکستان میں ہی ہوتا ہے
کہ
* جب شیمپو ، بوتل میں سے ختم ہو جائے تو؟ پانی ڈال کر اس کو ایک دفعہ تو نہا ہی لیا جاتا ہے ۔

* توتھ پیسٹ کے ختم ہونے پر ٹیوب کی تشریف پھاڑ کر اس کا اندر صاف کر کے بھی کام چلا لیا جاتا ہے ۔

* سبزیاں کتنی بھی خرید لیں ، پیسے کتنے بھی ہوں ، دھنیا مفت کا ہی مانگیں گے۔

* ساری قوم سونے کی قیمت پر پریشان رہے گی حالانکہ خریدنا کسی کو بھی نہیں ہوتا ہے ۔

* اپنے ریموٹ کنٹرول کو مار مار کر کام چلاتے رہیں گے ، بیٹری نہیں چینج کریں گے۔

* شادی کے کھانے کی دعوت والے دن ، صبح کا کھانا گول کر جائیں گے کہ اج شادی پر “لِڑ” مارنی ہے ۔

* پرانی قمیض کو کام پر لگا لیں گے ، اور جب کام کے بھی کام کی نہیں رہے گی تو ؟ اس کا “پوچا” بنا لیں گے۔

* گھروں میں چینی کے بہترین “ ٹی سیٹ” ہوں گے ، لیکن صرف مہمانوں کی آمد پر ہی نکلیں گے ۔

صابن ختم ہونے والا ہو تو اسے نئے صابن کے ساتھ چپکا لیتے ہیں

Report- Monthly People’ Assembly @ Chachro Press Club focused Education of Thar

 

Education is the only tool by which emancipation of oppressed people in Thar is possible, so 2014 will be celebrated as year of Education Emergency in District Tharparkar. Monthly people’s assembly at Chachro press club to highlight the issues of education of Thar. Politician are urged to withdraw from involvement in education department once and forever. Reward for best teachers of Tharparkar District announced. Education is the only tool by which emancipation of oppressed people in Thar is possible, so 2014 will be celebrated as year of Education Emergency in District Tharparkar. Monthly people’s assembly will be organized at Chachro press club on every fifth day, to highlight the issues of education and other relevant matters of Thar. Politician should withdraw from involvement in education department once and forever. Best teachers, best schools and position holder students from Govt schools of Tharparkar District will be rewarded.

 

Speakers in a seminar, “Role of education as a tool in emancipation process of oppressed people” organized at Chachro by a civil society organization AWARE shared their views. On the occasion best teacher, best children groups and best facilitators of adult literacy centres of Chachro were given awards. Veteran poet Juman Darbadar said that education always proved a tool and source of empowerment for deprived people all over the world. This is a single source by which poor people can get benefit and challenge the power structure maintained by feudal and so-called liberal market economy.

Educationist Ashok Suthar shared that bureaucracy always applies the autocratic and top down approach in educational department and that has proved failed in imparting quality education. He emphasized that it must be on basis on respect and trust, so rewarding best teachers is a best way by which environment of positive competition can be created. As far as the case of Thar Desert, it needs more attention and efforts in comparison to increase the literacy rate as well as quality environment. He quoted that Tharparkar District has hardly 29% literacy rate but as MDGs Pakistan has to achieve 100% literacy rate by 2015, so it needs more efforts and inputs, he emphasized that 2014 as a educational emergency literacy year celebration in Tharparkar District is a high promising initiative of civil society.

Social activist Gotam Rathi said that rural people generally believe in immediate rewards and the concept of delayed reward has been seldom brought into their awareness. It is where that the media can play a very significant role by showing the benefit of delayed rewards in the audience’s own cultural contexts. Through media rural population can be motivated for education especially for female education.

Researcher and social activist Ali Akbar Rahimoo said that on every 5^th day of moth a people’s assembly will be organized outside of press club Chachro to highlight the issues of area especially related to education. He added that in the best interest of poor people of Thar, politicians must announce once and for all that they will not interfere in education department of Tharparkar.

Partab Shivan, educationist of area reiterated that education is more stronger tool than the weapon/bullet to get rights in era of technology and global village. Best teacher award winner Manomal Meghwar said that i served for 38 years in education department but got first time recognition, he emphasized the need of such more initiatives for encouraging the hard working teachers of remote areas. Another teacher Wali Mohamad Samoo shared his views that teachers have a vital role in building personalities as well as maintaining social fabric by providing quality and civic education especially in remote areas like Thar Desert. Shanti Bai, another award winner teacher said that for Thar Desert, a holistic plan is need of hour to promote education and for that all stakeholders should play their due role.

On the occasion, Harnath Meghwar, Fatima Saund, Manoj Kumar, Sakhi Mohammad Rahimoo, Noor Mohammad Nohri, Mohammad Ishaque Bajer, Mohammad Ramzan Nohri, Sajid Bajeer and others shared their views.

    

 

Condemn the Killing of a a Journalist and demand an inquiry of the killing and compensation for the family

Shan Dahar, bureau chief of a TV Channel Aab Tak was killed in a attack on new year night when he was buying a medicine from a medical store nearby press club and bullet pierced his back. 

Dahar was rushed to the hospital but where fighting for his life for several hours but unfortunately due to lack of emergency medical treatment he succumbed to his injuries. Question arises who killed Shan Dahar? Apparently his killing is confused with the new year celebrations.  However the detailed look into the career and background of journalist reveals that he had fought against the drug dealers and criminals in the locality.

The real cause of his death is still not found by the law enforcement authorities which can be materialization of threats, he used to face due to his work. Killing of Shan Dahar in this way on new year eve can also indicate a conspiracy by the drug dealers, and other actors who were disturbed by Shan’s reporting and journalistic duties.

Killing Shan on new years night can also be one of the patterns used by enemies. This incident shows the weakness of law enforcement agencies and weakness of justice system which will definitely encourage the perpetrators to kill journalists, human rights defenders. RightsNow Pakistan condemns the killing of Shan Dahar and demand an impartial and independent inquiry into the killing and compensation for the aggrieved family.

RightsNow Pakistan’s focal person for journalists Sikandar Balouch is in contact with authorities at larkana and has updated that one suspect of killing has been arrested. Police sources also confirm the threats to the journalist.

Recent updates on Shan Dahar’s killing in Badeh, Larkanu reveals the fact which we already suspected that there must be some reason and hidden hand behind the bullet pierced Shan Dahar’s back and took her life. According to the updates received from Larkana that on new year night shan dahar was sitting with his freinds when he received news that Ms Badar wife of Nazir was brought to the Rural Health City block for delivery and her condition was not good. Medicines bought for her from the medical store were those which were used as sample and not for sell. Shan Dahar raised this issue with the owner of the medical store and during that a fired hit him from behind.

Police has arrested the owner of medical store and investigating further. We have report that Mr. Khadim Rind, an honest and reputed official is posted as DIG at Larkana  -we have full confidence in him and his investigation skills which will discover the truth behind the killing of a journalist.  

 

Recommendation by RightsNow Pakistan on Shan Dahar’s Case:

1. Investigation officer (IO) must be placed under an a committee comprising of honest, impartial, independent police officials supervised by the Magistrate

2. Local civil society and the legal Bar Association Larkana must monitor the investigation and later trial when challan is submitted before the Magistrate

3. Legal Bar Association Larkana should assist the lawyer/prosecution during the investigation  and the trial

4. Witness and complainant should be protected

5. Family of Shan Dahar must be compensated and supported both financially and emotionally by the TV Channel and  Government

6. We all collectively see whether Chief Minister Sindh province fulfill his promise of giving job to one of the Shan Dahar’s family member

7. Monitor security situation of Shan Dahar’s family

Condemn Attacks on Polio Workers and appreciate Imran Khan and Asifa Bhutto’s efforts

Again attacks on polio workers are being reported from different parts of the country particularly from Northern parts where the security of polio workers has become very low.

On 21 December 2013 Ghilaf Khan, 35 years old, polio worker, who was administering polio vaccine at a government-run dispensary in the Ghundi area when he was attacked by armed men riding on motorbike. In this case, 8 suspects were arrested in suspicion.

Two were hurt at Peshawer in an attack two weeks ago.  RightsNow Pakistan condemn these acts on polio workers in different parts of Pakistan by extremists. The country is one of only three where the polio virus is still endemic. This can be eradicated by the vaccination which is being prevented by the Islamist militants in Pakistan. These militants oppose vaccination against polio and consider such campaigns a cover for spying and other intelligence activities.They also believe and claim the vaccine is part of a plot intended to make Muslim boys sterile. On the other side, the number cases of polio cases in Pakistan reached 82 this year with five new cases reported in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas as the crippling disease remained endemic in the country. Four cases were reported from North Waziristan Agency and one from South Waziristan Agency. The infected children are aged between 10-28 months.

We highly appreciate the efforts of Imran Khan, head of Pakistan Tahreek i- Insaf for making a pledge  to spearhead polio vaccination efforts in the troubled northwest of the country, which remains a hotspot for the crippling disease.

We highly appreciate the efforts of Ms Asifa Bhutto, who is also UNICEF Pakistan’s Ambassador for Polio eradication has been active in reaching to families of deceased polio workers and making efforts for administration of polio vaccination in remote and excluded areas of the country.

We call for an independent and speedy inquiry into the cases so the culprits be hold accountable and demand from the Government to announce compensations for the families affected.