SOLICITORS’ INTERNATIONAL

 

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP

 

 

 

 

London, 9^th November 2007

 

 

 

Press Release: Proclamation of the state of emergency in Pakistan

 

 

The Solicitors’ International Human Rights Group (SIHRG) expresses deep concern over the human rights violations being perpetrated in Pakistan following the imposition of a state of emergency by General Pervez Musharraf on 3^rd November 2007.  SIHRG notes with grave concern that many judges, journalists, lawyers, politicians and activists of civil society have been detained and police have been given wide powers to use force with impunity to suppress public demonstrations.

 

SIHRG is committed to promoting the observation of human rights standards throughout the world and believes that the imposition of military rule is unacceptable in any country. The imposition of the martial law regime in Pakistan has been strongly denounced locally and internationally. The brutal force being used against judges, lawyers and civil society organizations have not silenced people’s demand for a transition to democracy, and restoration of the independent status of the judiciary and rule of law.

The Chairperson of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission Ms. Asma Jahangir, who is under house arrest for 90 days, has said “the situation in the country is uncertain. There is a strong crackdown on the press and lawyers. Majority of the judges of the Supreme Court and four High Courts have not taken oath. The Chief Justice is under house arrest (unofficially). The President of the Supreme Court Bar (Aitzaz Ahsan) and 2 former presidents, Mr. Muneer Malik and Tariq Mahmood have been imprisoned for one month under the Preventive Detention laws. The President of the Lahore High Court Mr. Ahsan Bhoon and former bar leader Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd have also been arrested. The police is looking for 6 other lawyers, including President of Peshawar and Karachi bar. The President of Lahore bar is also in hiding.”

Voicing his concern Michael Ellman, Chairman of the SIHRG, has condemned the imposition of military rule in Pakistan entailing as it does the effective suspension of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and the arrest of hundreds of judges and lawyers, including two UN Special Rapporteurs.  He has said that as no convincing reason has been given for martial law this is likely to exacerbate rather than prevent the dangers facing the country.

 

The SIHRG urges the Pakistani authorities to retract from all the steps taken after the proclamation of martial law, in particular the expulsion of the judiciary, the interference with the rule of law, arbitrary arrests and detention. We urge the authorities of Pakistan to restore the rule of law and democratic process immediately, before the situation deteriorates further.

 

For further information please contact:

 

Michael Ellman                                                                                  

Chairman of the Solicitors’ International Human Rights Group

admin@sihrg.org