Government flayed for opposition round-up

The chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday strongly condemned the government for the arrest and detention of thousands of political activists, as well as key opposition leaders, in what appears to be the largest crackdown on political parties since the military seized power on 12 October 1999. The arrests coincided with the latest round of local elections on Wednesday, which are part of the military government’s efforts to restore what it calls genuine democracy to Pakistan. “It is public knowledge that thousands of political activists have been arrested prior to an opposition political rally which was to be held in Lahore on 23 March, the national day of Pakistan,” Human Rights Commission chairman Afrasiyab Khattak told IRIN on Thursday. “We are deeply concerned at this indiscriminate action against political parties and regard it as a step in the wrong direction in the context of the government’s promise to restore democracy to Pakistan,” he said. “By arresting political activists from mainstream political parties, the government is creating a vacuum which is being filled by extremists. It is not a positive sign for the future of democracy and peace and order in this country. We, as the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, call for the immediate release of all individuals currently in custody on political grounds,” Khattak added. The criticism of the government by the Human Rights Commission follows what its chairman described as the recent arrests of thousands of political activists throughout the western province of Punjab. This was done under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance (MPO), a preventive law which has been used by successive governments against the opposition, according to Khattak. Many of the people detained in this manner were still being held despite the absence of formal charges against them, he said. On Wednesday, 22 opposition figures were arrested in a raid on a house in the western city of Lahore after gathering to discuss the recent arrests of political activists. Among those arrested were the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) leader Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and senior officials from the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League, according to the BBC. Major-General Rashid Qureshi, press secretary for Pakistan’s Chief Executive, Pervez Musharraf, told IRIN on Thursday that the arrests were completely justifiable because the government could not allow violation of the rules and laws prohibiting political activities and gatherings. “There is no justification to use 23 March or any other day to hold a political protest and this law is clearly stated by the Supreme Court, Qureshi said. “If someone has an objection to this ruling, they should file a case to the Supreme Court.” Qureshi said the political parties involved were the same rich and elite groups that had corrupted Pakistani politics for so long [before Musharraf seized power on 12 October 1999]. Regarding Wednesday’s second phase of local elections held throughout the country, Qureshi said there was mass enthusiasm for grass roots democracy in Pakistan. “In the first round of local elections held on 31 December, we had a massive participation of 46 percent, a record level never before seen in Pakistan. We are working against time. We cannot allow these other people to derail the process of democratisation,” he said. Four rounds of local elections, due to be completed later this year, are part of the military government’s planned devolution of power. Musharraf has publicly pledged to hold national elections within the next two years.