United States
May 8, 2012
Embassy of Pakistan
3517 International Court NW
Washington DC 20008
Faxed to: 202-686-1534
We have been informed by the Labour Party of Pakistan that Baba Jan, Iftikhar Ahmed and three other activists in the Gilgit district jail were severely beaten and tortured by Police and Frontier Constabulary in the early morning of April 28, 2012. We understand that they are in need of medical treatment but, further, that their families have not been allowed to visit them.
We are especially concerned for the fate of Baba Jan, who was taken from the Gilgit district jail by security personnel and transported to an unknown place.
We protest against this violent mistreatment, which should be unacceptable in a democratic Pakistan. We request information about their legal and health status. We protest their isolation from their family and friends. We request that that you pass on to your government our urgent message that Baba Jan and all other activists be immediately released from custody.
In an era where many around the world are deeply concerned by the crisis of climate change, people will be following the situation of Baba Jan and his fellow activists. The reality is that they have been imprisoned for their leadership roles in working with poor local residents who are demanding compensation for the devastating 2010 landslide and flood in the Hunza Valley.
No one should be imprisoned and tortured for highlighting the plight of villagers who have lost homes and livelihood because of climate change—indeed such leaders are heroes!
We look forward to receiving a response from your office, letting us know that our concerns have been addressed and that Baba Jan and the activists have been released from custody the charges dropped.
Very truly yours,
The National Committee of Solidarity (U.S.A.)
Great-Britain
To the Pakistan High Commissioner in London
I wish to join my name in the strongest terms to the protests at the treatment of Baba Jan in prison in Pakistan. Together with many of my colleagues on Newham Trades Council, I was involved in raising funds to support workers hurt by flood and other climate problems in Pakistan. I join my name to others who have written the letter below.
We have been informed by the Labour Party of Pakistan that Baba Jan, Waqar and other activists in Gilgit district jail were severely beaten and tortured by dozens of Rangers, Police and Frontier Constabulary in the early morning of April 28, 2012.
We are especially concerned for the fate of Baba Jan, who was taken from the Gilgit district jail by security personnel and transported to a place unknown.
We strongly protest against this violence and object to the prison authorities’ ban on visitors to these political activists. It would seem that the responsible authorities have failed in their duty to maintain safe custody of these persons. This kind of treatment of political activists should not be acceptable in a democratic Pakistan.
We are writing to request that you pass on to your government our urgent request that Baba Jan, Waqar and all other activists be released from custody immediately and that the ban by Gilgit district jail authorities on visitors to these activists be lifted. Further, we ask you to determine and advise us of the location of Baba Jan and any others taken from Gilgit district jail.
The Gilgit district jail authorities should publicly indicate the health status of each of Baba Jan, Waqar and the other activists; their families are also very worried. They are considered to be in dire need of medical assistance – something the authorities should facilitate. We request that they are immediately released and, if necessary, promptly transferred to hospital.
We are extremely anxious for the safety of the above persons, and wish to have information as to their legal and health status as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you soon about this matter as we are having emergency discussions with concerned prominent individuals, Members of Parliament, media and human rights organisations about future action on this case. We have also contacted British MPs about this matter.
There is a very broad layer of people around the world who are concerned about the fate of Baba Jan and his fellow activists because they are seen as political casualties of the deepening global climate change crisis. They are imprisoned for their roles in the campaign on behalf of poor local residents who were demanding compensation for the devastating landslide and flood in the Hunza Valley in 2010.
International flood relief campaigns for Pakistan have also increased public awareness of the situation. The success of future emergency appeals could be compromised if there were serious concerns that the victims of flooding and their advocates are being mistreated by Pakistani officials at any level of government.
For all the above mentioned reasons, we call upon the Government of Pakistan to act promptly on this issue.
Roger Silverman
Newham Trades Union Council
London, UK
France
Nouveau parti anticapitaliste
2, rue Richard Lenoir
93 100 Montreuil
Monsieur Alain KRIVINE
Ancien député européen
2 rue Richard Lenoir
93200 Montreuil, France
à
FEDERAL MINISTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Ministry of Human Rights
Old US Aid building
Ata Turk Avenue
G-5, Islamabad, PAKISTAN
Le 7 mai 2012
Monsieur,
Je viens d’être informé par la Commission des Droits de l’Homme du Pakistan de la situation de 5 détenus politiques qui sont actuellement internés au centre de détention de haute criminalité de Zulfiqarabad.
Il s’agit de Messieurs BABA JAN, AMEER KHAN, RASHID MINHAS, AMIR ALI et IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN, membres du Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) et du Progressive Youth Front (PYF).
Je suis particulièrement inquiet du sort qui leur est réservé dans ce centre d’autant qu’ils ont été auparavant battus, torturés, par les agents des services de sécurité, et qu’ils sont blessés. Il y a tout lieu de craindre pour leur vie.
Je vous demande de garantir immédiatement leur santé et leur sécurité.
Je vous demande qu’ils ne soient pas soumis à la juridiction antiterroriste.
Je vous demande qu’ils soient libérés au plus vite, le motif de leur détention étant inacceptable.
Recevez, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées.
Alain KRIVINE