Press Release

SAAPE condemns General Parvez Musharraf's unconstitutional move imposing the state of emergency and seizing human rights in Pakistan

South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) strongly condemns the unconstitutional and autocratic move by Pakistan's military dictator General Parvez Musharraf. The imposition of state of emergency, cancellation of the existing constitution and arbitrary issuance of new provisional constitutional order (PCO) and interference in the supreme court of Pakistan by military dictator Musharraf is highly condemnable. Suspension of human rights is the most unfortunate act by the military regime. Democracy cannot be upheld by suspending all democratic rights including freedom of association, mobility, expression, press and media. Musharraf's cowardly and shameless aggressions against people's conscience and sovereignty, and against regional and world peace, rule of law, justice and democracy is highly condemnable. We also condemn the forceful closure of the independent media and naked infringement in the judiciary and civil liberty in Pakistan.

We believe that this unconstitutional step of Musharraf will exacerbate the already existing poverty and marginalisation of the Pakistani people.

We thus, demand for the restoration of democracy and protection and promotion of human rights in Pakistan. The press/media should be allowed to operate unconditionally. Fundamental human rights including civil and political rights of the people of Pakistan must be protected.

We would like to extend our solidarity and support to the people of Pakistan in their struggle for democracy and human rights. We do not believe that in the age of twenty-first century the military rule/martial law should continue, in a name of the discipline that is already outdated and to do whatever they are told in absence of their own conscious discretion. Under no pretext or excuse, human right s and democracy of the people should be under threat.

We request the international community to act aptly for restoration of democratic process and human rights of Pakistani people. We extend solidarity and support to all the initiatives by the people of Pakistan for the restoration of democracy, protection of human rights, building peace and justice in the country.

Arjun K. Karki, PhD
Regional Coordinator
SAAPE

Date: 4 November, 2007