[sacw] In solidarity with Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

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June 1, 1999
Posted below is a Press Statement issued by the India chapter of the Pak
India peoples forum in solidarity with with the Human Rights Commission on
Pakistan, which is facing continued harassment.
Please share this information widely.

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June 1. 1999
PRESS STATEMENT

The ostensible reason the Punjab Government has given for stopping of the
publication of Newsletter of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is
that HRCP has not submitted two copies of the quarterly newsletter to the
Government and that the Government issued a notice to that effect. The fact
remains that no such notice was received by HRCP. The HRCP has been
regularly submitting copies of all its publications to the concerned
departments of both the Punjab and federal governments. This action on the
part of Punjab government is plain and simple harassment. The government
does not want human rights groups and activists to function in Punjab.

The Forum has also learnt with a sense of horror that Ms. Asma Jahangir,
the [former] Chairperson of HRCP and her sister Ms. Hina Jilani have been
threatened
with death both by the mullahs and the state apparatus for defending Ms.
Samia Sarwar.

Ms. Samia Sarwar wanted a divorce from her cruel husband and Ms. Jahangir
and Ms.Jilani fought her case in the court. This action of both was
considered to be an act of blasphemy. The parents of Ms.Samaia Sarwar
adopted diabolical methods and got Ms.Samia murdered. In many parts of
Pakistan this is an acceptable social practice of honour killing.

We appeal to all who respect democracy and human rights across the world to
stand up, and protest against the Pakistan government's attitude, apathy
and inaction on the perpetrators of the crime and demand safety of human
rights activists.

From:
The Secretariat
Pakistan India Peoples Forum for
Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD)
India Chapter, New Delhi

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