Pakistan

Pakistan: Condemnation of police brutality at demonstration

The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and the Joint Action Committee Lahore (JAC) condemn in the strongest terms possible the unprovoked police brutality against members of the Alliance for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws in Islamabad on May 2nd 2002.

Pakistan: Law and injustice - living with Zia's legacy

Zafran Bibi's commission of Zina has not been established in court. She has been sentenced, on circumstantial evidence, for giving birth while her husband was in prison. The Federal Shariat Court has ruled that such evidence is inadequate.

Pakistan: Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) members released

The arrests were made on 26th April whilst protesting against the proposed referendum.

Pakistan: Women's Action Forum statement on Zafran Bibi case

Women's Action Forum (WAF), Lahore expresses grave concern at the sentence of stoning to death of Zafran Bibi by the Sessions Judge Kohat, Mr. Anwar Ali. Zafran Bibi was sentenced on the basis of her statement before the court that she became pregnant and gave birth as the result of being raped by her husband's brother while the former was in jail. The male accused was acquitted.

Pakistan: Zina judgement quashed by court

Sindh High Court Hyderabad ordered the District and Sessions Judge Hyderabad to record the statement of a petitioner under section 164 Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. P.C.) and stopped her arrest under section 11/16 of Zina and Hudood Ordinance.

Pakistan: Appeal filed against stoning sentence - local groups prioritise local pressure

Although friends in Pakistan clearly stated they wish to pursue this case by prioritising local pressure and working through the Pakistani legal system, local groups have however requested that international friends remain ready to launch an alert for action should the need arise. Pakistani women’s, human rights and lawyers’ groups have mobilised around the case. At this point they are prioritising local pressure and working through the Pakistani legal system as their strategy.

Pakistan: Demand the overturning of death sentences in blasphemy cases

Dr. Younus Shaikh, a peace activist and founder of the Progressive group 'Enlightenment', was a teacher at the Capital Medical College for Homeopathy, Islamabad. He was arrested on 5th October 2000 by the Islamabad police and charged under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. All petitions for bail were rejected by the Lower and High Courts. On 24 July 2001 the Multan Bench of Lahore High Court confirmed the death sentence of Ayub Masih, a Christian, in a blasphemy case. Ayub Masih of Arifwala, Distt. Sahiwal (Southern Punjab) was arrested on 14 October, 1996 on the charge of passing derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. The appeal in one case is currently being heard while in the other case the appeal has already been turned down at the High Court level. It is therefore of the utmost urgence that all friends respond now to place pressure on the Pakistan authorities and ensure that these precious lives are not lost.

Pakistan: Open letter to General Musharraf

Open letter on freedom of religion in Pakistan.

Don't Let Them Get Away With Murder (Booklet on criminal procedures)

A booklet which aims to break the cycle of impunity in cases of honour killings by clarifying common misconceptions about the law and by providing information on some basic aspects of the law and the operation of the legal machinery in Pakistan as it relates to murder.

Pakistan: Demand the overturning of death sentences in blasphemy cases

Dr Shaikh has been in prison since October 2000. The death sentence, mandatory under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, was pronounced against him on 18 August 2001, and he has been in a death cell since then, with little personal contact with the outside world.