SUA030403(3)

Hotline Asia Urgent Appeals -- SUA030403(3)

Release Poet and Human Rights Activist Immediately
~ PAKISTAN ~
3 April 2003

Action Requested || Sample Letter || Background
Please send your letters immediately
Update

Summary

Hotline Asia is forwarding an appeal by human rights activists in Pakistan, regarding Krishan Sharma, a human rights activist, a poet, an intellectual, and a former journalist.

We have been informed that he has been held illegally by the clandestine military agencies of Pakistan in Hyderabad (Sindh Province) since 19 March 2003. It is reported that Mr Sharma is being held incommunicado and is being tortured.

As a non-Muslim resident of Pakistan, working for the rights of disadvantaged segments of society, Mr Sharma is extremely vulnerable.

Human rights activists in Pakistan are asking that Krishan Sharma be released and provided with medical care, and that an investigation into his detention and ill treatment be launched and that the perpetrators be held accountable.

Action Requested

Please write polite letters to express your concern about Krishan Sharma's condition in detention. Urge the authorities that:

Krishan Sharma be IMMEDIATELY released and provided with medical care; and
an investigation into his detention and ill treatment be launched and the perpetrators held accountable.

Send letters to:
H.E Prevez Musharaf President of Pakistan President House Islamabad	Fax:	92-51-9203938 92-51-9211018
H.E. Mir Zaffar Ullah Khan Jamali Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Minister Secretariat Islamabad, PAKISTAN	Fax:	92-51-9204632
Faisal Saleh Hayat Minister of Interior R- Block, Pak Secretariat Islamabad, PAKISTAN	Fax:	92-51-9202624
Meher Ali Shah Chief Minister of Sindh Chief Minister Secretariat Karachi, PAKISTAN
Brig. (Retd.) Mukhtar Ahmed Home Secretary, Government of Sindh Provincial Secretariat Karachi, PAKISTAN	Fax:	92-21-9211359
Send copies to:
Diplomatic Representatives of Pakistan in your country.

Sample Letter

We write with deep concern about the current condition of Krishan Sharma, who has been held illegally and incommunicado by miliatary agancies of Pakistan in Hyderabad (Sindh Province) since 19 March 2003.

We are aware that as a non-Muslim resident of Pakistan, working for the rights of disadvantaged segments of society, Mr Sharma is in an extremely vulnerable position and have deep concerns that he is being tortured.

Therefore, we request your authority to have Mr. Krishan Sharma released IMMEDIATELY and provide him with medical care. We also urge that an investigation into his detention and ill treatment be launched and the perpetrators held accountable.

Background

Please refer to the message below:

Dear friends

Krishan sharma, a human rights activist, a poet, an intellectual, a former journalist, a Hindu by birth, resident of the areas adjoining India in Sindh is being held illegally by the clandestine military agencies of Pakistan since March 19th, 2003 in Hyderabad (Sindh). He is incommunicado. He is being tortured. His crime, being a non-Muslim resident of Pakistan, working for the uplift of the disadvantaged segments of society and being an easy prey for the hounds of ruthless Pakistani armed henchmen. We, the human rights activists of Pakistan appeal to the conscience of friends every where to kindly intervene in all ways possible to save his freedom, dignity and life. Being a Hindu is no crime. Let's save him before many among us end up in the unknown dungeons.

Kindly write to president, Prime Minister, Interior minister of Pakistan as well as Chief Minister, Interior Minister and Home secretary of the province of Sindh. Let the world know what 's going on in Pakistan.

We further appeal that this message may please be forwarded to as many friends as possible.

Please remember to send copies of your letters to Hotline Asia for monitoring purpose.
Thank you for Your Continued Support!!