FACT SHEET

 

CRACKDOWN ON KASHMIR SOLIDARITY RALLY OF PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE (N)

 

The police actions against leaders and workers of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in recent days are not ordinary events.  In fact, these actions are the most vivid manifestations of the Musharraf regime’s attitude towards fundamental rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles.

 

This fact sheet has been prepared to provide food for thought to all who cherish restoration of a genuine democratic environment in Pakistan.  The events related here pose the question whether the regime’s protestations about its sincerity in paving way for transfer of power to the true representatives of the people through the general elections next October.

 

Peaceful Demonstration

In view of the popular apprehension that the General Musharraf’s orders to stop Kashmiri mujahideen from helping their brothers struggling against the Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir might lead to abandoning Pakistan’s traditional position on the Kashmir issue, the PML decided to stage a rally in Rawalpindi on June 14, 2002 for expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, and protesting against the Indian military moves on Pakistan borders.

 

PML Central Information Secretary reaffirmed the peaceful and apolitical nature of the proposed rally, and hoped that the administration would not create any obstructions.

 

The Rawalpindi district administration gave its permission after being assured that the rally would be a non-political peaceful demonstration, and would be confined to a short route, avoiding disturbance to normal traffic on busy streets.

 

Assault by the police

On June 14, when PML leaders and thousands of workers had gathered at PML office to start the rally, a large police force led by DSP Chaudhry Tahir arrived to prevent the march.  The police officers misbehaved with PML Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Vice President Syed Zafar Ali Shah and others, and refused to allow any demonstration in support of the Kashmir Freedom Movement. 

 

The PML leaders insisted on their right to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, and moved ahead.  Thereupon the police resorted to baton charge.  They brutally beat up rally participants injuring scores of them, including several central leaders of the party.  The police onslaught continued for several hours.  Over 300 PML workers were arrested, including Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Vice President Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Central Information Secretary Siddique-ul-Farooque, former federal minister Dr. Bashart Jazbi, former MPA Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, former Senator Subedar Mandokhel and about a dozen of local leaders.

 

 

Later, while the police released Raja Zafarul Haq and a few others late in the night, 12 prominent leaders were booked for disturbing peace and obstructing officials in performing their duties.  They spent the night in police lock up where they were manhandled and abused.  Meanwhile, more PML workers were picked up from their homes in midnight raids.

 

Drama in Court

Next morning, a civil judge released seven PML leaders, including Zafar Ali Shah and Siddique-ul-Farooque on bail, because the offence according to the police FIR was bail able under law.

 

The government did not like the court’s ruling.  Accordingly, a fresh FIR was registered – a totally illegal procedure – under the instructions of the provincial government, in which they were charged of terrorist activities.

 

The government also suspended two police officers and demoted another for registering a “soft case” against the PML leaders.

 

On Sunday, June 16, the police raided the PML camp office in Islamabad and re-arrested three party leaders including Syed Zafar Ali shah.  Raids to arrest others continue.

 

The illegality of these actions was noted by the judge of the Anti-Terrorist court, who refused to amend FIR to include charge of terrorism.  The special public prosecutor present in the court also agreed with the judge, whereupon the police resorted to another ruse.  They claimed that the accused attacked police personnel, tore off their uniforms and took away their helmets and sticks.  The flaw of the claim was exposed by the judge when he pointed out that at the time the alleged attack took place, the accused were already lodged in police lock up.

 

Strangely enough, the court first allowed to keep the accused in lock up for another day, and then on Tuesday, June 18, despite obvious fabrication of the charges, the PML leaders were sent to jail for ten days.  That, in all likelihood, is the beginning of a long incarceration in order to keep them away from election activities.

 

Exclusive Target

In contrast to the brutal crackdown on PML’s rally, the regime allowed the religious parties to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people at a large public meeting in Lahore on June 16.  Given the known lack of electoral support to these parties, the regime was not worried about them.  But PML’s case is different.  Being the largest national political party, it has the potential of deeply influencing the electoral vote.  It is obvious, therefore, that the main objective of the above-mentioned brutal actions is to victimize the PML (N), and erode its ability to participate in the coming general elections.  The ongoing repressive measures against the PML are a tacit admission by the regime that it fears resurgence of the party as a dominant force in the future political set up.

 

We believe that the PML (N) is the exclusive target of repression because:

 

The PML is the strongest and the largest national political party;

The PML is committed to democracy;

The PML is committed to supremacy of the Parliament;

The PML upholds the sanctity of the Constitution, and is vehemently opposed to any changes in the Constitution by the military dictator; and

The PML continues to subscribe to the traditional Kashmir policy, under which any settlement of Kashmir issue must be based on the UN Security Council resolutions for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.