Pakistani Civil Society Under attack:
Harrasment of Human / Women's rights activists, organisations, independent media and other institutions of civil society
A chronology of events of the last year (May 5, 1998 - May 21, 1999) in Pakistan indicates that the general move to clamp down on Human/Women's Rights NGO's is focused on their efforts to take up the crucial issues of:
- Women's human rights (including the current case Samia Imran / Sarwar)
- The Proposed 15th Ammendment to the Constitution
- Pakistan's Nuclear Programme, and
- Minority Rights
Parallel to this attack on NGOs numerous other developments have taken place in the overall move towards an authoritarian regime without checks and balances. This has included the attack on journalists, and the undermining of other institutions. (See: A chronology of events of the last year).
You can support dissenting voices of independent NGO's, Human / Women's Rights Defenders and Mediapersons in Pakistan by:
1) Writing to the Pakistan Embassy/High Commission in your country and to the persons at the addresses listed below:
a) expressing concern about the vilification campaign against Human/women's rights groups and direct attacks on institutions of civil society, especially NGOs and journalists,
b) requesting an immediate halt to inflammatory statements by government representatives and incitement to violence against human rights activists and organisations in Pakistan
2) Write to your representatives and bilateral agencies expressing concern and asking that your government take up this issue with the government of Pakistan;
3) Write to international and regional institutions expressing concern and asking them to take up this issue with the government of Pakistan, reminding them that Pakistan is signatory to various international instruments that uphold human rights and call for an enabling environment for NGOs (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, CEDAW, Child Rights Convention, ICPD Programme of Action, Beijing Platform, Social Summit)
Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif Fax: (92-42) 920 0130 and 920 0160 Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif primeminister@pak.gov.pk fax: (92-51) 920 8890 and 920 1545 Federal Minister of the Interior, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Fax: (92-51) 920 2624 Additionally, write to the following members of the judiciary as custodians of fundamental rights to please take suo moto notice of these attacksThe Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Ajmal Mian
Fax: (92-51) 921 3452Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid,
C/o Supreme Court of Pakistan
Fax: (92-51) 921 3452Chief Justice Lahore High Court,
Justice Rashid Aziz
Fax: (92-42) 735 5888
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Last Updated on May 28, 1999