Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: Home Based Women Workers Federation and NTUF along with civil society and parties on the eve of International Women Day, jointly organizes on 7th March, 2015, 3:30pm today at Karachi Art Council to Karachi Press Club.
On the eve of International Women Day Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) and
National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) organize rally of informal and formal sector workers to mark the day on 7th March 2015 from Karachi Art Council to Karachi Press Club.
The rally will be attended by different sector of home based workers from different areas of Karachi, trade union and social activists among Dr. Sabiha Al-Mashriqi Chief Khaksar Tehrik Pakistan and other civil society of different walks of life told Zehra Khan General Secretary HBWWF.
Hyderabad National Jirga demands release of Aafia
Rulers should fulfill their commitments regarding the early release of Pakistani mother: Justice
Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Chief Justice (retried) Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed has asked the sitting rulers to fulfill their pledge regarding taking efforts for the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
Addressing a National Jirga at Hyderabad for the release of Aafia, he said it is utmost important for the Muslims to fulfill their promises and commitments. He reminded that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had promised with the whole nation regarding the release of Aafia and he should honor his promise.
Justice Ahmed said in Pakistan and international level the issue of Aafia is being raised through processions, rallies, Jirgas, protests, seminars, conferences and media activities; however, he stressed the need to take this efforts on American-level. He said regarding the release of Aafia the most important responsibly is of the sitting government. He said not only Raymond Davis but even hundreds of Pakistanis wanted by the US have already been handed over to the Americans and now it is the turn of America to at least release the innocent Aafia, so that she could meet her children and mother.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Naib Amir and president of Milli Yakjahiti Council Sindh Asadullah Bhutto Advocate said that 18 Crore Pakistanis wanted to see their sister Aafia amongst them. He said the government should discharge its duties by taking all-out efforts on diplomatic level to bring home Aafia. He said the United States of America in the case of Aafia did not fulfill the needs of justice and due to its cruel excesses have become a criminal in the eyes of peace loving people of the world. He said even if Aafia committed any crime, but what was the crime of minor children who were kept in illegal detention and tortured for years. He appealed to the media that to highlight the violations of the basic human rights of Aafia and her children and expose their tormenters on global level.
Jamait Ulema e Pakistan (JUP) President Dr Sahibzada Abdul Khair Zubair said arrest of Aafia without any evidence and her conviction also without any evidence is the biggest terrorism of the lone super power. He regretted that Pakistani rulers missed many opportunities to get freed Dr Aafia Siddiqui. They showed lack of courage, self-respect and national honor. He said freedom of Aafia is our individual and collective responsibility. He asked the Pakistani rulers to stop playing the role of the US slave and take brave efforts for the release of Aafia.
Sindh Human Rights Council Chairman Ramesh Gupita Advocate said there are hardly any example of the atrocities that were meted out to Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Her trial was a one-way affair and totally biased. He said the allegation leveled against Aafia were baseless and fake. It was the miscarriage of justice that
she was not even allowed the right of appeal. He said this case should be referred to the international court of justice. He said Aafia is the daughter of the nation. He urged the international agencies of human rights, minorities, civil society, political parties and the governments of Pakistan and the US to play their role for the release of Aafia.
Akash Mallah, ex-central vice chairman of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaza (JSQM) said the people of Sindh, historically are supporters of the oppressed people. He said the Sindhi folklore of Umar-Marvi is also a tale of an oppressed woman. He said the Marvi of Sindh or the daughter of the nation Dr Aafia Siddiqui braved the same fate – punishment for crimes that they never committed. He said we demanded for the global champion of human rights, United States of America, to give at least the right of appeal of Dr Siddiqui. He said the whole world condemns the inhuman torture of Aafia. He demanded that all oppressed people in detention should be freed.
Aafia Movement leader Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said she was thankful to whole nation for its united demand for release of Pakistani mother Aafia Siddiqui. She said this is the issue that has got full support from people belonging to all walks of life. She said both political and religious parties want early release and repatriation of Aafia. She said after the approval of the Karachi Declaration in the national Jirga held in Karachi last month, now this Hyderabad national Jirga also demands the release and repatriation of Aafia.
Fowzia Siddiqui said the most important role in release of Aafia could be played by the army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and then Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. She suggested that in the agreement between Pakistan, the US, and NATO for the safe return of military hardware from Afghanistan, besides taking care of the other national interest, the issue of Aafia release should also be included in this agenda.
Pasban-e-Pakistan President Altaf Shakoor said a military general gave the daughter of the nation to America and now another should bring her home. He said the return of Aafia is also a national obligation of our forces. He said the sellout of Aafia to American is as huge tragedy as the fall of Dacca. He said the value of US dollar increases and decreases in the money market, but the value of a daughter never depreciates. He said the political and military leadership should not asses the value of the daughter of the nation like rates of US dollars, oil and gas.
Feudal mindset of Imran Khan to elect John William as Senator from KPK
Correspondent
KARACHI: (PCP) Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress in a statement issued from Central Secretariat of PCC said that Pakistan Tehreek Insaf PTI of Imran Khan have proved that it is also not a common man party but group of Feudal Lords, Business Tycoons and Establishment organs like PML (N), PPP and other Muslim political parties when he make possible election of Rtd Brigadier Joh Kenneth Williams in Senate of Pakistan from KPK province on minorities seat.
There are four reserved seats in Senate of Pakistan for Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Ahamadiyyia and other religious minorities each from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber KakhtunKhwa provinces under 19th Amendment passed in 2011. There was no representation of minorities according to constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan of 1973 till 2011.
Dr. Nazir Bhatti said “There were five Christian workers of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf PTI from KPK province Imran Khan party governs but they were denied tickets as they were not feudal lords and business tycoons but common people and PTI Senate ticket was allotted to Rtd. Brigadier Jon Kenneth Williams who was not even member of Imran Khan,s party from Senate of Pakistan elections on March 5, 2015”
“Large population of Christians is living in Balochistan but National Party NP make possible election of a Hindu in Senate of Pakistan while Hindus are in numbers of hundreds in this province of Pakistan which also expresses the trend of ignorance towards Christians of Muslim political parties in Pakistan” said Nazir Bhatti
Nazir Bhatti added “In Sindh province where Pakistan Peoples Party PPP rules and more than 2 million Christians are residents of this province but there is no Christian representation in provincial assembly and in Senate of Pakistan elections of 2015, a Hindu is elected as Senator which is matter of grave concern for Christian political and civil society activists”
There are more tha 18 million Christians in Punjab province of Pakistan where Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Group PML (N) rules but no ticket was allocated to Christians on Women seat, technocrat seats or general seat in Senate of Pakistan elections on March 5, 2015.
There was none of any Ahmaddiyia community individual in four provinces of Pakistan who was given ticket by any Muslim political party of Pakistan in Senate of Pakistan elections.
Dr. Nazir Bhatti said that Joint Election system have turned common man Christian, Hindu, Ahmaddiyia and other religious communities to second class citizen and rich members of these communities are pay heavy bribes to reach in Senate of Pakistan, National Assembly of Pakistan and provincial assemblies while Muslim parties are enjoying vote bank of common man of minorities.
PCC Chief Nazir Bhatti demanded Dual Voting right for minorities that they may elect their leaders in parliament.