Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- SUA010508(2)

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background

Summary

Hundreds of opposition activists, including many leading politicians who were planning to join public rallies in Karachi on 1 May 2001 (May Day),were arrested the evening before the rally day in different parts of the country. The government also took control of the rally venue and routes leading to it. As a result, one of several peaceful assemblies failed to take place.

The May Day mass arrest (855 people in 5 districts were arrested) is not the first time the government has banned public political activities through police violence, in breach of international human rights standards. Previously in April, hundreds of people, including women and children, who protested against lack of clean water supply were arrested, violently attacked and injured by the police.

Amnesty International has commented that none of the peaceful protesters posed a danger to public order, and none ought to have been arrested.

Please write polite letters to express your concern about the mass arrests on May Day; request for the immediate and unconditional release of all the detainees and the right to have peaceful assembly.

Sample Letter

Background

Normally, political parties in Pakistan choose special days to have assemblies, protests and marches in order to attract the government's attention to their demands. The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), a coalition of 18 political parties in opposition to the present military government, called for peaceful rallies to be held in Karachi on 1st of May (Labor day or May Day). They intended to demand for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

While the ARD was still planning for the May Day rallies in Karachi, at least 300 opposition activists were arrested. The administration had besieged not only the venue for the rally - Nishtar Park in Karachi - but also all possible routes leading to it. The ARD leaders and workers who managed to gather at various vintage points in the city were baton-charged. It is reported that hundreds of opposition activists including many leading politicians who wanted to join the rally, had already been arrested the evening before the rally day in different parts of the country. As a result, the rally failed to take place.

Official sources say that police and law enforcement agencies had arrested about 308 people including 50 women. However ARD sources claimed more arrests had taken place. According to the Pakistani press, 855 people were arrested during the 5 days leading up to 1st May in 5 districts of Karachi. They were charged under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)*. Another leading newspaper quoted a former Law Minister and leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, Mr. Iqbal Haider, who claimed that about 2700 people had been arrested throughout the whole country.

Previous MASS arrests:

• The ARD also called for rallies to be held on 23rd March (Pakistan Day) in Lahore to demand the resignation of the military government and for immediate general elections under an interim civilian government of national consensus. However, arrests of activists reportedly began on Tuesday, 20 March 2001, while ARD was preparing for rallies in Mochi Gate, central Lahore, the traditional site of political rallies and protests. Hundreds of members of the ARD were arbitrarily arrested in Lahore. The exact number of arrests has been difficult to establish: According to opposition party sources, at least 2,000 people were arrested in Lahore and other towns but police put the number at about 200. As news of the arrests spread and activists went into hiding, police arrested family members in their stead. While some detainees appear not to be held on any formal grounds, most were detained under provisions of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

• Political activists and environmentalists also conducted a protest march against the government's failure to ensure the supply of irrigation and drinking water in Sindh province, in late March and early April. Hundreds of people including women and children were baton-charged, tear-gassed and arrested. Many were injured as a result of being hit with sticks or dragged into police vans. Although most of those arrested were released within hours or days, the continued ban on public political activities cannot be justified, as most of the peaceful processions are no harm to the public order.

The three incidents (Arrests on May Day / Pakistan National Day / water problem) are some examples that whenever people protest or assemble peacefully to demand for, or express their rights, they are scattered forcefully or arrested, which is against the norms of democracy. As Amnesty International has said, "The authorities should lift the ban and allow people in Pakistan to enjoy the full range of their human rights".

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