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 Hudood ordnance be repealed and "honor Killing" be made a crime against the state and not against a family to allow perpetrators to escape the full penalty of law, by coercing relatives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"

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.

In 2003, Dr Aafia Siddiqi was apparently abducted in Pakistan by Pakistani intelligence. She then was found in US custody in Afghanistan in 2008. She 'disappeared' and surfaced only lately after the news was leaked and the international press picked it up. It would seem that her interrogation in an Afghan police station was stage managed. A loaded gun was placed near her. It was claimed that she picked it up and tried to kill Americans soldiers who were there to question her. Her shots went wild, but she was hit.

She was brought while still badly hurt to NY to face charges of attempted murder of American soldiers.

We uphold supremacy of law, an independent judiciary and condemn in unequivocal terms all transgressions of law, abduction, illegal incarceration, and transfer of prisoners from one territory to another with out due process.

We demand a thorough investigation by independent U.N.O mandated agencies into the whole affair and that all the agents of injustice and law breakers be brought to the International court of Justice at the Hague. Read Story

ANAA Condemns the Expulsion of Ahmedi Medical Students in Pakistan

June 5, 2008: Punjab Medical College expelled 23 students belonging to Ahmedi faith. Few days before expulsions it was alleged that they were preaching their faith.

BBC reported that Islami Jamiat-e-tulba students surrounded the Principal's offices and raised slogans against the Ahmedi students. List of 23 Ahmedi students, rusticated from the college, was then released by the college administration. The same day, a mob of about 300 college students also barged into Ahmedis students’ rooms, beat them and threw their luggage out of their rooms.

Ahmedis, like other minorities, have been persecuted in Pakistan using discriminatory laws. They have faced hostile environments in Pakistan where they have been mascaraed at their religious places (click here for firing on Ahmedi Mosque).

ANAA takes a strong stand supporting Ahmedi students and demands that:

1. Students should be immediately re-instated.

2. Incident should be properly investigated and perpetrators identified and punished so that all minorities feel safe in the university.

For Details click here

ANAA Press Release: Benazir Assasination and call for UN led Investigation

1st January, 2008

ANAA is saddened and heartbroken by the untimely and tragic demise of ex-prime Minister Mrs. Benazir Bhutto. Her assassination is a harsh reminder that terrorism achieves no objectives but only causes human tragedy. We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan in rejecting and condemning this shameful act. ANAA also extends condolence to the family members of citizens killed in this cowardly act.

ANAA is extremely concerned by the lack of security in Pakistan. It demands that the government of Pakistan provides security to life and property of all its citizens.

We support the demand of a United Nation led investigation into the tragedy.

ANAA Condems Imposition of Emergency in Pakistan

3rd Nov, 2007

ANAA strongly Condemns Emergency and Suspension of 1973 Constitution in Pakistan

ANAA has learned that State of Emergency has been imposed in Pakistan. 1973 constitution has been suspended, security forces have entered the supreme court and supreme court bar association president Chaudhry Aitizaz ahsan has been arrested.

We strongly condemn these illegal steps and issuance of the new PCO.

ANAA salutes those supreme court judges who have refused to accept the PCO.

Pakistan is passing through a very tough times. With extremism rising in FATA and NWFP it is utmost important that military returns back to the barracks, free and fair elections are held and with mandate of peace loving Pakistani people representative assemblies re-establishes the writ of State in areas like Swat.

This Emergency will only lead to more chaos in the country.

Please attend the event by Pakistani community outside NY consulate today, 3rd Nov 2007 - click here

Text of Emergency Order click here

ANAA and Political Parties

ANAA Press Release
18th Oct 2007

Any statement, action or collaboration by any person, present or previous office holder of ANAA, in support of any political party is on personal basis and shouldn't be considered as being endorsed by ANAA.

ANAA is a non-partisan advocacy group for people of Pakistan.

ANAA elects new President

ANAA Press Release

1st October 2007

Dr. Amna Buttar has joined Pakistan People's party (PPP). She has resigned as president of ANAA. Dr. Zaffar Iqbal has been elected as new ANAA President.

ANAA is a non-partisan advocacy group for people of Pakistan. Our vision is of a progressive and enlightened Pakistan where there is no room for discrimination and injustice.

ANAA believes in justice for all, gender equality, and human rights for all as enshrined in the principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, CEDAW - The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women and all other charters, covenants and protocols of the United Nations Organization on human rights.

Nawaz Sharif denied entry into Pakistan

ANAA Press Release
12th Sept 2007

ANAA Condemns the Flouting of the Rule of Law in Pakistan

Asian American Network Against Abuse of Human Rights condemns the poor and extra judicial treatment afforded to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his return to Pakistan on September 10, 2007. ANAA also condemns the arbitrary arrests of hundreds of political workers that took place prior to his arrival. These workers are being held under the Maintenance of Public Order Act, the Anti Terrorism Act or simply without charge.

As per the decision of the Supreme Court, Pakistan's premier legal authority, Government officials did not have the right to deport him. The agreement on which the Government based their decision does not have any legal standing in International law or Pakistani law and hence is a blatant violation of the rule of law in Pakistan. The detention of political workers also represents the abuse of power by Government officials seeking to crack down on political opposition.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to follow the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and to end its crackdown on political opposition workers.

For details of the case (Click here)

NWFP-Bannu: Beheading of Women

ANAA Press Release
8th Sept 2007

NWFP-Bannu: Beheading of Women accused of “immoral activities”

ANAA is outraged and saddened by the incident of beheading of two women, in NWFP, accused of “immoral activities”. The extremists are now concentrating on policing the morals of the society. Obvious talibanization of FATA and NWFP is very detrimental to the civil society.

Our society has become desensitized and accepted this violence as a way of life. ANAA hopes that the courts will use their new, well-deserved independence and take suo moto action.

ANAA hopes that the civil society and politicians, will not waste time questioning the “morality” of the murdered, but articulate their criticism in strongest possible term against this gross violation of human rights.

May the souls of these unfortunate ladies rest in peace.

For details of the case, click here.