Constitution of Pakistan
Safeguard regarding arrest and detention:
No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody
without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such
arrest, nor shall be denied the right to consult and be defended
by a legal practitioner of his choice.Every person who is arrested
and detained in custody shall be produced before a magistrate within
a period of twenty-four hours of such arrest, excluding the time
necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court
of the nearest magistrate, and no such person shall be detained
in custody beyond the said period without authority of a magistrate.
Article 10
The dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of home, shall
be inviolable.
No person shall be subjected to torture for the purpose of extracting
evidence. Article 14 (1) & (2)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading
treatment or punishment. Article 3 & 5
The monitoring of the cases as well as news has
proved that the policing and administration maintained religious
biases. While the ‘involuntary disappeances’ of political
activists were common in 2006 many persons belonging to religious
minorities were faced extrajudicial detention and torture by the
security agencies. The police’s behaviour has been many times
insulting and minority persons were more vulnerable to their extortionist
attitude. The police and administration ordinarily made in roads
among the minorities however they also abused those people when
they found them to be not complying.In 2006 Mastan Singh faced charges
and harassment when he exposed the corruption of the Auqaf department.
The Health Ministry of Punjab simply shrugged off the High Court
orders to appear and tender their reply to the writ petition on
behalf of Qandeel Benjamin on the violation of fundamental rights
regarding her admission in the medical College. Therefore a great
deal of unwillingness to look at the problems faced by the minorities.
Dealing of the blasphemy cases and hate speech are the typical examples.
It would be good to look at the examples around.
Indian Cabinet allocated 15 percent funds of the Central schemes
and programmes for the minorities and revised the Prime Minister’s
15 – point programme for welfare of minorities. The programme
is revised to uplift the social, educational and economic conditions
of minorities. Daily Times June 23, 2006
Minorities were totally ignored in the City District
Government Lahore budget which is rupees 21 billion. Daily
The News June 30, 2006
Statements of government official and reality
1- Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan, Auqaf and Religious Affairs
Minister said that Pakistan was a role model with respect to the
steps taken for the welfare of minorities in South Asia. He also
said that Pakistan was the cradle of different religions and civilizations
and minorities were its ornament. The government deserved the credit
for providing the minorities an opportunity to play part in National
politics through joint electorate system. Pakistan government had
not only ensured the best possible maintenance of Gurdwaras and
pilgrims, but also ensured the protection of religious, educational,
economic and political rights of minorities and provided protection
to them. Daily Dawn May 14, 2006
2- Mr. Mushtaq Victor State Minister
for Minorities Affairs said that sufficient funds are being allocated
for the welfare of minorities in the coming budget. He also said
that historic decision to give due representation to minorities
in all elected forums from National Assembly to Union Council level
had geared up the pace of social economic uplift. Daily
The News May 23, 2006
Development funds and minorities
1,250 minority councilors from all districts of Punjab
joined the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) and demanded
equal, share in development funds. Chairman of APMA said that minorities
always played a vital role in the development and progress of the
country; however they were neglected in every sphere of life. Daily
Dawn June 26, 2006
Disappearance
1- Chetan Kumar - Sindh
Chetan Kumar (45) was arrested by eight armed men from
his home district Umer Kot on 17 July, 2006. They came in a white
double cabin jeep bearing registration No. GS – 0162 and a
red Toyota car without a registration number followed the jeep.
The police refused to file the complaint, claiming that he had been
taken by an (secret) Agency. His family filed a petition in Sindh
High Court, however no progress was made. He was also arrested earlier
on suspicion of involvement in a terror incident in 2001 and given
five years imprisonment by the Special Anti Terrorist Court; later
acquitted by the High Court in 2005. He was severely tortured in
detention.
Chetan’s brother told that he had came to know from someone
that the Federal Investigating Unit (FIU) had taken him into custody.
He was not recovered till this report. Asian Human Rights
Commission
2- Gordhan Das - Sindh
Mr. Gordhan Das Alias G.M. Bhagat (55) was reportedly picked up
by the law enforcement agents in September 2006 from Umar
Cot district. They also came in the same white jeep followed by
the red car. Police refused to register a case and stated that they
cannot file cases involving the secret agencies from the federal
government. Asian Human Rights Commission
3- Greesh Kumar - Sindh
Greesh Kumar (22) was arrested by four persons from his flat in
Hyderabad on 17 August 2006. These persons also came in
a white jeep followed by the red Toyota and introduced them selves
Officers of the Investigation Branch of the Government of Pakistan.
An FIR was registered, however no progress was made. Asian
Human Rights Commission
