Jul 22, 2010
Nurse Rape at JPMC
ANAA hopes that thorough investigation will be done.
Details of the case, click here
http://www.dawn.com.pk/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/16-jpmc-doctor-booked-for-trainee-nurses-rape-670-hs-02
Jan 5, 2010
ANAA Welcomes Pakistan Supreme Court's Decision
Participants: Athar Javaid, Dr. Anwar Masood, Dr. Talha Siddiqui, Zulekha Yusuf and Shah Abbas
ANAA welcomes Pakistani Supreme Court unanimous decision to throw out an amnesty, know as National Reconciliation Ordinance which had been brokered by former president General Musharaf and foreign powers that protected as many as 8,000 political figures from prosecution on widespread corruption charges. The amnesty introduced in October 2007 allowed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to return from exile and released thousands of politicians and bureaucrats from charges of graft and other offenses.
Aug 16, 2009
Gojra: A Collective Shame for all of us
In 2005, the Christian community of Sangla Hill in Nankana district in Punjab experienced a most hair-raising day of violence and vandalism. After allegations of desecration of the Quran, a mob of 3,000 led by the local elected politician and police burnt down three churches, a missionary-run school, two hostels and several houses belonging to the Christian community. Lahore’s archbishop stated that the attackers had been brought there by buses from outside."
We should ask ourselves that how the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are able to incite people in the name of religion.
ANAA has condemned all laws enacted with an intent of legislating one person or community beliefs over another person or community. We would want to emphasize two recommendations at this point:
1. All Sharia laws including Blashphemy, Hudood and other should be repealed as these laws give an excuse to fanatics to intimidate and harass the women, minorities and other segments of the society
2. Our educations system needs a comprehensive reform as it has been systematically radicalised by Muslim fanatics. Education that should impart critical thinking to a learning mind has become a tool of indoctrination by extremists. We should strive to create a rational, curious mind rather than teaching intolerance against other people.
Christian Fair: Extremism and Pakistan Education system
Nov 30, 2008
Program in DC Area: Baluchistan - Live Burial of Innocent Women
TYSONS CORNER PIMMIT LIBRARY
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Despite astounding leaps that our civilization has witnessed over recent decades human rights violation remains a matter of grave concern throughout the world. From Africa to Middle East and Asia to Europe and Americas human rights violation is rampant.
The prevalent local politics and closely guarded cultural inhibitions in Baluchistan and adjoining Tribal areas and complications arising from ongoing war on terror, the effort needs to go much beyond the conventional voicing of concern through human rights organizations. We are deeply concerned and eager to put together an action plan that would consolidate our voice and let justice prevail in the face of this human right violation of unthinkable p roportions.
Key Note Speaker: Mr. T. Kumar
Amnesty International USA Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific
Program: 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Registration & Networking
Shah F. Abbas Athar Javaid Anwar Masood Zulekha Yusuf
703 628 3346 571 332 8786 240 252 0488 571 292 6494
Case Details - Click here
Nov 25, 2008
ANAA's letter to NY Time on their article on Education in Pakistan and Mr. Bijrani Case
To,
The NY Times Editor,
Dear Editor,
Nicolas Kristoff has been a true friend for people of Pakistan. He has fearlessly written for the survivors specially Mukhtaran Mai, Shazia Khalid and Aisha Parveen. Your paper is creating a needed space for civil society by exposing the utter incompetence and criminal behaviour of people in power.
Mukhtaran Mai Case:
A Free Women Nicolas Kristoff. - NY Times 19 June 2005
Detailed Archive on Mukhtaran Case prepared by ANAA
Another Face of Terror. NY Times, 31st July 2005
A Pakistani Rape and a Pakistani Love Story. NY Times, 2nd Aug 2005
Detailed Archive on Shazia Khalid Case prepared by ANAA
Nov 11, 2008
ANAA letter to Pakistan President protesting appoitment of a "Swara" facilitator as an Education Minister
To,
The President of Pakistan
3517 International Court, NW
Washington DC, 20008
Phone: 202-243-6500
Dear President Asif Ali Zardari,
ANAA is outraged at the appointment of Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani as federal education minister. As you are aware that Mr. Bijrani was arrested for chairing the jirga that decided to hand over five minor girls to settle a dispute in 2006.
This is how the story goes.
15th August 2007, Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry, ordered the arrest of 11 members of a jirga, including PPP MNA Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, for handing over five minor girls to the family of a murdered man as compensation to settle the dispute in Jacobabad.
Complaint was filed by a freelance anthropologist Samar Minallah against the handing over of five girls — Aamna, 5, Bashiran, 2, (daughters of Rahmatullah), Shehzadi, 6, Meerzadi, 2, (daughters of Hafeezullah) and Noor Bano, 3, (daughter of Yar Ali) — to the family of the murdered man as compensation.
The feud began in 1997 when one Miandad Banglani was killed in a shootout between Hafiz Qamaruddin and Ali Yar Banglani groups over karo-kari (honour killing). Police registered the case after nine years that too after the media highlighted the injustice.
The event of the jirga was recorded by a regional television and was shown during the hearing. The video footage contained statements of Yar Ali and Rehmatullah, fathers of three of the girls, endorsing the allegations that the girls had been given in to the victim's family as compensation and the decision of marriage had been taken up by the jirga. (Report by Daily Time, Dawn)
As ANAA President I urge you to rescind this appointment.
Regards
Zaffar Iqbal, MD
President ANAA
ANAA is US based, registered non-profit advocacy group focused on restoration of human rights in Pakistan. It is a totally volunteer run grass root organization. It is the pioneer group amongst the diaspora engaged in increasing awareness for civil struggle in Pakistan. ANAA believes in participatory politics as a basic human right in Pakistan. ANAA supports independent judiciary and freedom of media in Pakistan
Understanding "Swara" - Giving Minor Girls as Compensation
PPP Appoints an alleged "Swara" Facilitator as an Education Minister
This is how the story goes.
15th August 2007, Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry, ordered the arrest of 11 members of a jirga, including PPP MNA Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, for handing over five minor girls to the family of a murdered man as compensation to settle the dispute in Jacobabad.
Complaint was filed by a freelance anthropologist Samar Minallah against the handing over of five girls — Aamna, 5, Bashiran, 2, (daughters of Rahmatullah), Shehzadi, 6, Meerzadi, 2, (daughters of Hafeezullah) and Noor Bano, 3, (daughter of Yar Ali) — to the family of the murdered man as compensation.
The feud began in 1997 when one Miandad Banglani was killed in a shootout between Hafiz Qamaruddin and Ali Yar Banglani groups over karo-kari (honour killing). Police registered the case after nine years that too after the media highlighted the injustice.
The event of the jirga was recorded by a regional television and was shown during the hearing. The video footage contained statements of Yar Ali and Rehmatullah, fathers of three of the girls, endorsing the allegations that the girls had been given in to the victim’s family as compensation and the decision of marriage had been taken up by the jirga. (Report by Daily Time, Dawn)
ACTION ALERT:
Please send an email to Pakistani Ambassador, Honourable Mr. Hussain Haqqani - ambassador@embassyofpakistanusa.org addressed to President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari showing your outrage at Mr. Bijarani's appointment and asking to rescind it.
ANAA's letter to Pakistani President protesting the appoinment.
Understanding "Swara" - giving Minor Girls as compensation - 6 minute documentary
Sep 7, 2008
Baluchistan: Live Burial of Innocent Women
ANAA condemn in the strongest possible terms the live burial of five innocent women in Baluchistan. What is infinitely worse is that a senator, no less, defended the heinous crime on the floor of the house.
Compounding the callous stupidity, the acting chairman of Pakistan's senate tried to minimize the brutality of the crime by stating, again on the floor, that only five women had died, the sky had not fallen.
We have made note of the statement of the leader of the team which performed post-mortem on two of the women that they were killed with blunt instruments before burial. That in no way mitigates the gravity of the dastardly crime.
We demand that
1. HR organization is Pakistan be, officially and formally, made part of the investigation.
2. The defenders of the cold blooded murders in the senate be reprimanded and proceedings started to suspend their membership of the house.
3. Hudood ordnance be repealed and "honor Killing" be made a crime against the state and not against a family to allow perpetrators to escape the full penalty of law, by coercing relatives to accept blood money.
4 An impartial and fair inquiry be instituted, the alleged perpetrator be tried and given punishment to the full extent of the law..
Read Reports
NBC: Honour killings persist in "man's world"
Sep 1, 2008
Pakistani Lawyers at the helm of Change
Pakistani Lawyer At Helm of Change
Goal Is Restoration of Ousted Judges
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, July 11, 2008; Page A10
During a visit to Washington last month, Ahsan warned American legislators that instability and uncertainty in Pakistan could not be remedied until judges removed from their jobs when President Pervez Musharraf imposed military rule last November were reinstated. Chaudhry himself had been returned to the bench last July following the massive spring protests.
Ahsan was in Washington to address the annual meeting of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America. The combative lawyer also spoke to an overflow crowd at an event organized by Amnesty International.
"He is our big hope in our drive to support the rule of law," said Zaffar Iqbal, a physician with the Asian American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights. "Secular people want a fair system."
Aug 12, 2008
Dr. Aafia Siddiqi Case
August 2008: We have gone over and carefully considered all the available reports on the disappearance in 2003, and the sudden reappearance in July 2008, of Dr Aafia Sidddiqi.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Case
ANAA joins the community in asking for justice for Ms Siddiqui. We would like to see the case investigated by UN sanctioned body and then tried in International court that will have the confidence of all parties involved.
BBC reports, Aafia Siddiqui is the youngest of three children of a British-trained doctor.
Her brother is an architect based in Houston, while Fauzia is a neurologist who used to work at Mount Sinai hospital in New York.
Aafia Siddiqui went to school in Karachi and graduated with a biology degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US.
In 2004 then-FBI director Robert Mueller announced at a press conference that Aafia Siddiqui was wanted for questioning.
She was later named as part of an alleged al-Qaeda diamond smuggling operation in Liberia.
Publications such as Newsweek quoted the FBI as saying this was to finance al-Qaeda's biological and chemical weapons programme.
Read full story
ANAA's Press Release