AFTAB AHMED SHEIKH VOLUNTARILY PRESENTED HIMSELF FOR ARREST AT SINDH HIGH COURT, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Left: Aftab Ahmed Sheikh sitting in the police mobile waving the sign of victory
Centre & Right: Mrs Aftab Sheikh could not control her emotions while narrating the gory details of the police raid

Left: Aftab Ahmed Sheikh along with his wife and Nawab Mirza Advocate entering the Sindh High Court
Right: Aftab Ahmed Sheikh addressing the press before presenting his voluntary arrest

Karachi – 20 April 2001

MQM Deputy Convenor Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh has voluntarily presented himself for arrest at Sindh High Court, Karachi, today. Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh reached the Sindh High Court at 11.00 a.m., and addressed a well-attended press conference at the general advocate cafeteria of Sindh High Court. At this occasion, he said that we protested peacefully against the water shortage in Sindh Province with the support of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM).

Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh said, "We were demanding water for our province but in reply the government used State force against the peaceful demonstrators. They tortured, baton charged, abused, molested and arrested the leaders, workers and supporters of the MQM and JSQM. After that, we called for a peaceful general strike against the water shortage in the Sindh province. The world witnessed that the strike was peaceful, complete and successful in whole of the province, which shows that the people of Sindh are aggrieved due to the water shortage and are with us on this issue. Instead of paying attention to the grievance of the people of Sindh and removing them, the government again started using state force against the people. During the last two days, they have raided and arrested hundreds of MQM and JSQM leaders and workers including MQM Deputy Convenor and Member of Suspended National Assembly Mr Sheikh Liaquat Hussain, Member of Suspended National Assembly Mr Hasan Musanna Alvi, Member of Suspended Provincial Assembly of Sindh Zafar Rajput and others. They also raided my houses in Karachi and Hyderabad and ransacked it. Now I am here to present my self before this august court for my arrest. We want the solution of the problem of Sindh specially the shortage of water by peaceful means. Our doors are open for the peaceful and meaningful negotiations. However, these negotiations should be at the federal level because this matter is directly related with the federal government and the provincial government."

Senator Sheikh said that we want to make it clear that arrests, raids and the use of brute State force would not solve the problem. If the government wants to solve the issues, they should provide justice to the people of Sindh. He said that the MQM and JSQM are peacefully struggling for the justice and we will continue our struggle despite the government oppression.

On this occasion, the wife of Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh narrated the horrible details of the raid at her residence in Hyderabad by the law enforcement personnel.

At around 11.45 a.m., Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh come out of the building of Sindh High Court to present himself for voluntary arrest. A heavy contingent of police was present with SSP Abdul Majeed Dusti, who arrested Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh. A large number of lawyers and supporters of MQM were also present at this occasion who raised slogans in the favour of MQM. The police personnel detained Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh and took him away to an unknown destination. A large number of press representations were also present at this occasion.

It has been reported that the police have also arrested Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari Advocate, MQM Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, who was present in the Sindh High Court. The police also arrested a couple of other lawyers who had come to the Sindh High Court and were just watching the proceedings of the press conference and the volutary arrest of Mr Aftab Ahmed Sheikh Advocate.

Mr Abdul Sattar Ansari MPA being led away by plain clothed
personnel of law enforcement agencies

DAILY JANG, FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2001