PAKISTAN: A human rights activist faces terrorism charges for publicising the murder of Christians, while the mullahs who incited the violence remain free

To: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Islamabad

Name of the Victim: Mr. Tariq Mehmood, son of Mohammad Tufail Ansari. Resident of village Basti Danishmandan, Chak no. 264, G-B, district Toba Tek Singh,  Punjab

Names of the perpetrators: 1. DSP, Toba Tek Singh district. 2. SHO, Toba Tek police station, Punjab 3. DPO, Toba Tek district, Punjab, Pakistan

I am writing to register my deep concern regarding the arrest of Tariq Mehmood, an activist working for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Labour Party of Pakistan, on charges of terrorism and disturbing the peace. The charges disproportionately refer to demonstrations he helped arrange after the burning murders of a number of Christians, and the burning of their houses by Muslim extremists. Police have not arrested those who incited the violence using the loudspeakers of mosques, which is illegal in Pakistan.

According to the information I have received Mehmood joined a team of activists to gather information at the site of the attacks, and issued a press release on behalf of his Labour party. He also announced an upcoming ‘black day’ for 11 August to protest against the murders and the lack of protection arranged for the Christian victims.

On 10 August I am told that he was informally asked to meet and ‘talk’ with the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), in the Toba Tek Singh district. Mehmood reportedly was asked and refused to call off the upcoming Black Day protest and was sent to Gojra police station under arrest. The charges under article 7 of the Anti Terrorist Act, article 13 of Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and article 152 of the Criminal Procedure Code among others refer to his party press release as ‘pamphlets’.

In a Faisalabad Anti Terrorist court session, police asked that Mehmood be physically remanded (placing him in their custody and I believe, at risk of abuse as physical remand is only meant for the recovery of some weapon or any illegal possession whatsoever) but the judge fortunately ordered judicial remand at Toba Tek Singh jail.

Though it is illegal for the loud speakers in mosques to be used for anything other than Friday sermons in Arabic and the call to prayer, we have received reports that certain mosques broadcast comments and accusations against Christians in that area for two days; some of them within hearing range of police stations.

Though up to 64 rioters have been arrested, the mullahs responsible for inciting the violence allegedly remain at large; therefore one of the biggest roots of the sectarian violence in Pakistan misconduct by its religions leaders remains unaddressed.

The Anti-terrorist Act has been used against a human rights defender on the basis of a press release he wrote criticizing the violence, yet absurdly, not against the inciters of wide scale sectarian violence.

I urge that you take serious note of the murders in Gojra, and inquire into the lack of protection afforded the Christians who died there. Inquiries by various human rights organisations strongly indicate that the attacks and murders were pre-planned.

I also request that you investigate and drop the charges of terrorism used improperly and illogically against Tariq Mehmood, and investigate how such charges were able to be filed.

I demand that those who used mosque loud speakers to incite sectarian murder be investigated and brought before the law.

I look forward to your action in these matters.

Faheem Aamer

Pakistan

Received via email – faheem_yas@yahoo.com

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