Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracy Condemns Emergency in Pakistan

PAKISTAN- INDIA PEOPLES’ FORUM FOR PEACE & DEMOCRACY (Maharashtra)

November 4, 2007

PRESS STATEMENT

Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) strongly condemns the imposition of Emergency in Pakistan. This Emergeny is illegal and unconstitutional. The Emergency means suspension of all fundamental rights. The regime of Pervez Musharraf today arrested Dr. Mubashir Hasan and I A Rehman, both founding members of PIPFPD, amongst others. The regime has also arrested Asma Jehangir, internationally acclaimed human rights activist, and sealed the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Lahore.

Musharraf has usurped the independence of the judiciary by sending troops into the Supreme Court of Pakistan and detaining Iftikhar Chooudhary, Chief Justice of Pakistan and removing other judges who refused to take an oath under the Provincial Constitutional Order (PCO). Emergency has been imposed as the Judiciary, of late, became pro-people and embarrased Musharraf many times. The Supreme Court was to deliver a judgement on petitions challenging the election of Musharraf as President of Pakistan.

Emergency also means encroachment on freedom of expression and speech. It is no surprising that a few vocal journalists, too, were arrested.

We express our solidarity with the struggling, pro-democracy people of Pakistan and express confidence that sooner than later the citizens of Pakistan will achieve true democracy.

Jatin Desai, Hon. Secretary
PIPFPD (Maharashtra)

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Please note: Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD), Peace Mumbai, Awami Bharat, among others, will demonstrate on Monday November 5, 2007 at 5.00pm outside Churchgate Station, against the imposition of Emergency in Pakistan. If you are in Mumbai, please join them.