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PAKISTAN: One person shot dead and several injured by firing during illegal demolition

October 9, 2007

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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal

10 October 2007
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UA-292-2007: PAKISTAN: One person shot dead and several injured by firing during illegal demolition

PAKISTAN: Extrajudicial killing; right to housing; lack of investigation; impunity
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Urban Resource Centre-Pakistan, an organization working on housing rights, that one person was shot dead and more than 10 were injured by thugs, with the help of the police, during an illegal demolition on 3 October 2007. However the case has not been filed nor has an investigation been initiated. This is allegedly due to interference from the ruling party, which originally sent the thugs to demolish the houses in the village.

CASE DETAILS:

At noon on 3 October 2007, 12 police jeeps from the Korangi township, along with bulldozers, came to the 300-year-old village, the Juma Kalmati Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Bin Qasim town, Karachi. About 50 to 60 armed people belonging to the party, Mutehda Qoumi Movement (MQM), some in police uniform, emerged from the jeeps. After they got down from the jeeps, they started demolishing the houses and their belongings. They also aimed their guns at the women and children as most of the male inhabitants had gone out for work. The women and children were prevented from stopping the demolition and so had no choice but to shout and cry. Then, they gathered and started protesting against the demolition.

After hearing these noises, Mr. Sultan Junejo, who was at home after finishing his night duty, went to see the situation. Suddenly the thugs started firing at the protesting group of people. Due to this fire, Junejo was shot in the chest and fell down. More than 10 persons were seriously injured. Junejo was taken to a hospital nearby where he was pronounced dead. After the fire, the group of people scattered and ran away from the demolition squad.

According to the information received, Juma Kalmati Goth comes under Bin Qasim town. The demolition was carried out by individuals from the Korangi township, which is a stronghold of the ruling party, MQM. Dr. Farooq Sattar, a top leader of the party, was elected as a member of the National Assembly and Mr. Arif Khan was elected as the Nazim (Mayor) of Korangi town. After the incident, the Nazim (Mayor) of Korangi town, Jan Alam Jamote, vehemently denied that his town office conducted the demolition of the village. However, witnesses identified that the demolition vehicles and police jeeps were marked as originating from Korangi township.

This is the second time that the thugs, under the guardians of the ruling party, have conducted an illegal demolition on the village, despite a government title in 1973 as the villagers' property.
In May and September 2006, the thugs attempted to demolish other old villages in Karachi city but they stopped after strong protests and reactions from the media and civil society. During the demolitions half a dozen people were killed and many were forcibly displaced.

Ironically, this illegal operation occurred just two days after World Habitat Day, whilst the government of Pakistan has continuously claimed that it will provide shelter to the people, according to the international laws. The motive of the demolition is believed to be the acquisition of the land, which is in a prime position in the city of Karachi.

The demolition operation has currently been stopped. Nevertheless, about 50 houses were ruined and 300 family members have no place to live. It is alleged that neither investigation nor compensation by the government has been initiated due to interference from the ruling party, which originally sent the thugs to demolish the houses in the village.

It is unacceptable that the investigation into the killing of Mr. Sultan Junejo and those injured by gunshots, has not been launched yet. This case also illustrates how easily the police can be arbitrarily mobilised in such an illegal operation, for an ulterior purpose or interest, instead of protecting a citizen's life and property. In addition, it is alarming that illegal demolitions have occurred, despite similar cases last year. An impartial investigation should also been launched without delay and those responsible should be punished. The government of Pakistan has the responsibility to prevent a similar incident in the future.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send your letters to the authorities listed below and urge them to punish those responsible through an impartial investigation. Appropriate compensation and shelter should be provided.

To support this appeal, please click here:

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Suggested letter:

Dear __________,

PAKISTAN: One shot dead and several injured by firing during illegal demolition

Name of victims:
1) Mr. Sultan Junejo (shot dead)
2) Mr. Beejal (injured)
3) Mr. Ramzan Shaikh (injured)
4) Mr. Mohammed Bakhsh (injured)
5) Mr. Hafeez, Fareed (injured)
6) Ms Pervez Begum (injured)
7) Mr. Mohammed Siddiq (injured)
8) Ms. Shazia (injured)
9) Ms. Yasmeen Khan (injured)
10) Ms. Amina Begum (injured)
11) Mr. Liaquat Bahadur (injured)
12) Mr. Rashid Azam (injured)
13) Mr. Khalil Khan (injured)
14) Mr. Noorul Islam (injured)
15) Mr. Raees (injured)
[All are residents of Juma Kalmati Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Bin Qasim town, Karachi, Sindh province]
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1) Mr. Arif Khan, Town Nazim of Korangi town, Karachi, Sindh province
2) Town police officer, Korangi town police, Karachi, Sindh province
Date of incident: At noon on 3 October 2007
Place of incident: Juma Kalmati Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Bin Qasim town, Karachi

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the casualties of villagers that occurred during an illegal demolition operation in the Juma Kalmati Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Bin Qasim town, Karachi.

According to the information received, 12 police jeeps, belonging to the Korangi township, along with bulldozers, came to the village on 3 October 2007.  Approximately 50 to 60 armed people (some wearing police uniforms) started demolishing the houses in the village without legal authority. When there was a protest by the villagers, mainly women and children, the thugs (including the police) fired guns and the villagers scattered.

Due to this illegitimate firing by the thugs, Mutehda Qoumi Movement (MQM), Mr. Sultan Junejo was shot in his chest and fell down and more than 10 persons were seriously injured. Junejo was taken to a hospital nearby and was pronounced dead.

According to the information received, the Juma Kalmati Goth comes under the Bin Qasim town but the demolition was carried out by members of the Korangi town, which is a strong hold of the ruling party, MQM. Dr. Farooq Sattar, a top leader of the party, was elected as the member of the National Assembly and Mr. Arif Khan was elected as the Nazim (Mayor) of Korangi town. After this incident, the Nazim (Mayor) of Korangi town, Jan Alam Jamote vehemently denied that his town office has conducted any demolition to the village. However, witnesses identified that the demolition vehicles and police jeeps which used for demolition to the village were marked the name of Korangi town ship.

This is the second time that the thugs, under the guardians of the ruling party, have conducted an illegal demolition on the village, despite a government title in 1973 as the villagers' property. In May and September 2006, the thugs attempted to demolish other old villages in Karachi, but were stopped after strong protests and reactions from the media and civil society. During the demolitions half a dozen people were killed and many were forcibly displaced.

The demolition operation has currently stopped. Nevertheless, about 50 houses have been destroyed and 300 family members are homeless.  Allegedly, neither investigation nor compensation by the government has been initiated, due to interference from the ruling party, originally sent the thugs to demolish the houses in the village.

This case also illustrates how easily the police can be arbitrarily mobilised in such an illegal operation, for an ulterior purpose or interest, instead of protecting a citizen's life and property. In addition, it is alarming that illegal demolitions have occurred, despite similar cases last year.

In light of the above, I urge you to conduct an impartial investigation without delay and those responsible should be punished. The investigation should include all elements of the case surrounding Mr. Sultan Junejo's killing and the injured villagers. In addition, it should reveal the nexus between the thugs, under the guardians of the ruling party, and the police. It is unacceptable the ease with which the police can be mobilised in this illegal demolition operation.

I take this opportunity to draw your attention to the fact that the government of Pakistan has a crucial responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens and their property. As it welcomed the World Habitat Day on 1 October, it has continuously claimed that it will provide shelter according to the international norms. Thus accordingly, appropriate housing and reasonable compensation should be provided for the people who have been affected by this illegal demolition.

I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.

Yours sincerely,


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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail: (please see-> http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx)

2. Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2628
E-Mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

3. Mr. Justice Sabih Uddin
Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-21-9213220
Email: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk

4. Dr. Ishrat UL Ibad
Governor of Sindh province
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 21 920 1201
Fax: +92 21 920 1226
E-mail: pvt_secretary@governorsindh.gov.pk (for private secretary of Governor)

5. Dr. Arbab Abdul Rahim
Chief Minister of Sindh
Chief Minister House
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000

5. Chief Secretary
Government of Sindh
Chief Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh province,
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 921950
Fax: +92 21 9211946
Email: cs.sindh@sindh.gov.pk 

6. Secretary
(Criminal Prosecution) SGA &CD Department
Government of Sindh
Sindh Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 9213327-6
Fax: +92 21 9213873
Email: secy.cpsd@sindh.gov.pk

7. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court Building
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92-51-9213770
Fax: +92 51 9213452
E-mail: registrar@supremecourt.gov.pk

8. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Room 3-016
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS)

9. Mr. Miloon Kothari
Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9066 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ADEQUATE HOUSING)

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
UA-292-2007
Countries :
Issues :
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.