Pakistan: Arrests and harassment of judges and lawyers under Martial Law
Front Line is deeply concerned over reports relating to the imposition of Martial Law in Pakistan and the resultant arrests and harassment of human rights defenders including judges and lawyers.
Further Information
Posted 15/11/2007 On 3 November 2007, President General Pervez Musharraf issued a declaration, with immediate effect, in which he proclaimed emergency throughout Pakistan. Following the imposition of this state of emergency it has been reported that all judges in Pakistan have been required to take a new oath of allegiance recognising the declaration of 3 November 2007. Since that date more than 3000 lawyers have allegedly been detained; Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has been summarily removed from his position and placed under house arrest and approximately eighty per cent of the judiciary have refused to take the President's new oath. Front Line is extremely concerned that the rule of law has effectively ceased to operate and the judicial system in Pakistan has been rendered defunct.Of further concern are reports that a new professional Ordinance is to be passed giving the High Courts and the Supreme Courts the power to remove the licences of practising lawyers.
Many of the detained lawyers are being held for 90 days under the Maintenance of Public Order law, including Ms Asma Jahangir, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. A house arrest warrant has also reportedly been issued against Ms Hina Jilani, Vice-Chairperson of the HRCP and United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders, who is currently out of the country. It is believed that she will face arrest upon her return.
Reports indicate that some lawyers are being held incommunicado and are at great risk of abuse or ill-treatment from law enforcement officials, many other lawyers have allegedly been beaten up at demonstrations, and some are being held in solitary confinement.
In particular Front Line is extremely concerned about Muneer A Malik, the former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association; Tariq Mahmood, former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who we understand is now being held incommunicado at an undisclosed centre; Ali Ahmed Kurd, former Vice-Chair of the Pakistan Bar Council, who was allegedly handed over to intelligence agencies and tortured; and Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, who we understand is reportedly being held in solitary confinement.Whilst Front Line welcomes President Musharraf's promise, on 11 November 2007, to hold general elections in January 2008, we remain extremely concerned that the election process cannot be deemed democratic unless the state of emergency is lifted immediately.
Front Line is concerned that judges and lawyers in Pakistan have been targeted because of their peaceful activities in the defence of the human rights of others.
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
