Bhutto Under House Arrest, Hundreds of Lawyers Arrested in Pakistan
By Jane Clark
November 9, 2007 | Printer Friendly

As reported in sources including the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and BBC News, lawyers in Pakistan took to the streets early this week to protest General Pervez Musharraf’s decision to declare a state of emergency, effectively dismantling the court system and invalidating the constitution.  His decision has infuriated Pakistani citizens, because many people believe the legal system was just beginning to achieve its independence from the military government.  Musharraf has blamed the courts for “meddling in the affairs of state and ‘demoralizing’ public servants,” while his critics contend that the Court is just doing its job.  Seven hundred lawyers are now in jail, as well as 50 people from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and 5,000 members of Benazir Bhutto’s party, the People’s Party of Pakistan. 

On Friday, November 9, Bhutto, who returned to Pakistan last month, was barricaded in her home as part of a government effort to prevent a protest that was scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi.  As many as 8,500 police officers were involved in blocking thousands of people from reaching the protest site and Bhutto’s residence.  Police managed to disperse protestors so that the planned rally never took place.  Although her attempts to leave her residence were prevented, Bhutto was allowed to make a speech in front of her home in the afternoon that was broadcast on Pakistani television.  In her speech, she called on General Musharraf to end the state of emergency and restore the constitution and stated that she would not negotiate with him until he complied.  She pledged to go ahead with a march scheduled for early next week in the Punjab province.  The United State government has criticized Bhutto’s forced confinement and the state of emergency.  The US National Security Council spokesman has said, “Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released.  We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistan's authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms.”

One activist who has been arrested is Asma Jahangir, who has been involved with the Community of Democracies’ (CD) International Advisory Committee on the CD’s invitation process.  The Los Angeles Times writes that Jahangir has been sentenced to 90 days of house arrest following her demand that the government “obey the constitution and respect individual rights.”  Jahangir is a lawyer who has spent most of her life fighting for democracy, and government leaders are now so afraid of her ability to create unrest that soldiers guarding her home have searched it multiple times to make sure she has not escaped.  She is quoted as saying “I don't know why [Musharraf] thinks I am the most dangerous person in Pakistan. He's obviously forgotten the people in Swat area and FATA area and the militants who are hanging around.  I suppose anyone who calls a dictator a dictator is dangerous and imbalanced.”  Jahangir is admired and respected internationally and within her country for her defense of women’s rights, challenging laws, exposing government corruption, and forming the Human Rights Commission in Pakistan.  Jahangir has no chance to be released on bail, but remains optimistic, because she believes that continuing to speak out is worth the time spent under house arrest.  Recently, she has written a letter, asking people to put pressure on the United States government to stop their support for Musharraf.  For the full text of the letter, see the link listed below.

In response to this crisis, the International Steering Committee (nongovernmental) (ISC) has released the following resolution condemning Musharraf’s actions.  This resolution will be presented by the ISC for endorsement by the CD governments attending the CD Biennial Ministerial Conference in Bamako, Mali that is being held November 14th through 17th.

ISC Urges Community of Democracies to Call for the Release of Asma Jahangir and a Return to Constitutional Rule in Pakistan 

The International Steering Committee (ISC)  for the Nongovernmental Process of the Community of Democracies (and friends) express their condemnation of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf’s suspension of the national constitution and imposition of emergency law  and call for the immediate restoration of basic political rights and civil liberties in the country. 

We deplore the repressive tactics employed by military forces, and the detainment of hundreds of civil society leaders, lawyers, journalists and members of the national judiciary.  In particular, we express grave concern over the arrest of dedicated human rights defender, Asma Jahangir, who has played a special role as a member of the International Advisory Committee for the Community of Democracies country invitation process.

 We call on the Community of Democracies to address the current political crisis in Pakistan during its November 15-17 ministerial meeting in Bamako, and urge it to demand the release of Ms. Jahangir and other detained members of civil society, media, judiciary and political opposition; the resumption of constitutional rule and civil liberties; and a  transition to democratic governance, with elections to be held as scheduled in January of next year.

The Open Society Institute has also released a statement calling for the release of Jahangir and an end to the state of emergency.  The statement can be found on their website: OSI Statement.  The National Democratic Institute has also released a statement, in which they call for the restoration of civil government in Pakistan: NDI Statement   Additionally, a petition has been created by Avaaz, an activist group focused on global issues, to condemn the decision to declare a state of emergency and to put pressure on international leaders to voice their opposition.  The petition can be signed at the Avaaz website: Avaaz Petition.   The Council for a Community of Democracies supports the efforts of Asma Jahangir and these organizations.

References:

New York Times: Pakistani Lawyers Angered as Hope for Change Faded

Washington Post: Pakistan Police Clash with Lawyers

Associated Press: Pakistan Political Conscience

New York Times: Thousands of Police Block Pakistan Rally

BBC - Ex-PM Bhutto Under House Arrest

Washington Post: Bhutto Detained at Home

LA Times: Voice for Democracy Muffled in Pakistan

Asma Jahangir Letter