25 August 1999
PRESS CONFERENCE OF MR. ALTAF HUSSAIN, FOUNDER AND LEADER OF MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT (MQM) AT THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT OF THE MQM ON 25TH AUGUST 1999.
Honourabale journalists,
Assalam-o-Alaikum and Good Morning,
I welcome you to the press conference. I am also grateful to you on your presence on such a short notice.
The objective of arranging today’s press
conference is purely to put facts to the world, particularly to
the national and international human rights organisations through
your newspapers and media. Furthermore, this has also provided me
an opportunity to apprise you with the facts of the Government
Operation and the methods and means employed by the Government of
Nawaz Sharif to crush the MQM which is the third largest
political party of Pakistan and the second largest in the
province of Sindh.
Honourable journalists,
The methods employed by the Government of Nawaz Sharif to crush the MQM are as follows:-
Moreover, due to the majority in the National
Assembly, the ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) is
promulgating the unconstitutional and undemocratic ordinances to
strengthen the Muslim League Government and weaken the opposition
political parties. The worst example of this exercise is the
"Shariat Bill". I would like to clarify that we are not
against the "Shariat" but are against the so-called
"Shariat Bill" of Nawaz Sharif that would make him
totalitarian and a monarch.
Honourabale journalists,
If I elaborate only three of the above points, the objective of the press conference would not be clear. For example, the way, the Government has made the judiciary subservient purely to persecute and crush its political opposition. The Government’s influence and manipulations over judiciary is tantamounting to the slaying of judiciary and the judiciary itself is slaying the justice.
However, I would briefly explain the first three
points. Firstly, the Government is using all the unconstitutional
and democratic methods to persecute and victimise its political
opposition. Secondly, the state media including the electronic
media is being fully employed in the effort to malign the image
of the MQM which is the third largest political party of the
country and the second largest in the province of Sindh. And,
thirdly, the security agencies and the police, who are endowed
with the duty to protect and defend the citizens and defend the
international borders of the country are being employed to
arrests and harass the members of the political opposition and
spy on their movements instead of arresting the thieves, robbers
and other criminals.
Also, certain quarters and intellectuals are claiming that the Nawaz Sharif Government by ordering the Mujahideens and the armed forces to retreat from Kargil has converted the winning war of Kashmir into a humiliating defeat.
Honourable journalists,
It is imperative to talk about the judgment of the Anti-Terrorists Court No. IV sentencing two MQM workers to Death on the false charges of murdering four American citizens employed by the Union Texas Corporation. The crux of today’s press conference.
On 12th November 1997, between 8.00 a.m. and 8.15 a.m., four American citizens employed by the Union Texas Corporation and their Pakistani driver were murdered during an ambush on their vehicle.
A team of FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) and
members of other American intelligence agencies had come to
Karachi to investigate this crime. The views and results of their
exhaustive investigation were reported by the visiting teams. I
am providing you a few documents compiled by the FBI and also an
article published in the Washington Post that reflects views and
results of the investigations carried out concerning the murder.
I would also read out a certain paragraphs of the article of the
Washington Post.
You are already aware that "Governor Rule" was imposed on 30th October 1998 in Sindh province. The Sindh Assembly and the democratic process was suspended. A horrendous "Government Operation" was launched with renewed ferocity against the MQM. A wave of siege and search operation, arrest of MQM workers and sympathisers and their extra-judicial executions began. Since the imposition of the "Governor Rule", twenty-one (21) MQM workers have been extra-judicially executed. Not only this, but Summary Military Courts were established whose validity was challenged in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declared the Military Courts illegal. Once, the Summary Military Courts were declared illegal, the Government established Anti-Terrorist Courts through a Presidential Ordinance. The question now arise, that while the Supreme Court, High Court, Lower Courts and Session Courts are in place in accordance with the Constitution then the objective of establishing Anti-Terrorist Courts becomes crystal clear which is to persecute and victimise the political oppositions. Moreover, under the umbrella of judiciary, the objective of the Anti-Terrorist Courts are to sentence the members of the political opposition to Death. So far as, over fifty (50+) MQM workers have been sentenced to Death by implicating them in false and fabricated cases.
Honourable journalists,
Just imagine! where people would turn to, when the President of the Country and the Chief Justice are witnessing these state pantomime and acting as mere spectators and are not only indifferent but totally complacent on these acts. Let me now, present a case to you on which the Chief Justice should have taken suo-moto action.
Honourable journalists,
The documents that I have provided includes a letter
of an MQM innocent worker of Liaquatabad Sector, Aamirullah,
which he had written to the Chief Justice unraveling the truth.
He had pleaded to the Chief Justice in that letter that he was
falsely implicated in the murder case of Hakim Saeed and
therefore, justice must me provided to him. Besides that letter,
the mother and sister of Aamirullah went to Islamabad and met the
Chief Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and handed over the letter
of Aamirullah to the Chief Justice, personally, explaining his
innocence and his false implication in the murder case of Hakim
Saeed. After that letter was handed over, Aamirullah was
sentenced to death, whereas, the Chief Justice should have taken
suo-moto action, after the receipt of that letter.
Now let us revert back to the murder case of the four (4) Americans and the Pakistani driver who were murdered on the morning of 12th November 1997 in Karachi.
Under the criminalisation policy of the Establishment and its conspiracy, MQM was also implicated in this case whereas MQM had nothing to do with it. A conclusion on the lies of the Government can be drawn from this incident.
The D I G (Deputy Inspector General of Police) had presented Ahmed Saeed and Mohammad Saleem in Press Conference held on 28th February 1999 and claimed that both the accused were arrested on 27th January 1999. The D I G had also claimed that both the MQM workers had confessed to the killing of the Union Texas employees. Whereas, the fact is, that Ahmed Saeed was arrested on 14th. December 1998 from his flat in Bahadurabad, Karachi. The mother of Ahmed Saeed had filed a Constitutional Petition in Sindh High Court on 21st. December 1998 against the unlawful detention of her son. Similarly, Ahmed Saleem was arrested on 27th November 1998 from Water Pump, Federal "B" Area, Karachi.
Honourable journalists,
When these MQM workers were arrested, the charges of possessing unlawful arms were levied against them, an usual fabricated charge of the Authorities against the MQM workers. But, after the elapse of three months, Ahmed Saeed and Mohammad Saleem were suddenly implicated in the murder case of the American citizens which is a clear cut proof that they were forced to make the confessional statement in custody of the State as a result of brutal torture.
Moreover, another aspect in this case is also
important in this murder case. An incident that took place on
12th November 1997 but two state witnesses were produced in the
Court on 13th. June 1999 that included a driver. He recognised
the accused as the perpetrators while this was not logically and
legally possible. Human beings sees hundreds of people from
morning until the evening and forgets. While, according to the
witnesses, they had only seen the glimpse of the accused. After
the elapse of seventeen (17) months, they are brought on 14th.
June 1999 and after such a long gap, they immediately recognised
the accused, it is seems humanly impossible.
Another important matter to consider in this case is that according to the Police, who claims the car used in that ambush was recovered from the G P O (General Post Office), Karachi and its colour declared by the Police was, Red. But, the state witnesses testified that the colour of the car used in that ambush was White.
Honourable journalists,
The Nawaz Sharif through organised conspiracies implicated the MQM workers in the killings of the American citizens and had them condemned to death by his "Kangaroo Court". While, the American investigation teams having interrogated and examined the MQM workers exonerated them from any involvement in this case. The members of the American investigation team expressed their apprehensions of the involvement of Aimal Kansi Group and Harkat-ul-Ansar in this murder case. Its proof is evident from different reports of the FBI compiled regarding this case. Moreover, widespread news paper reports of Pakistan and the United States of America rejected the claims of the involvement of the MQM workers in this crime. The FBI team had expressed their apprehensions that this attack could have been "retaliatory" against the Kansi’s extradition and rendition in the U S Court.
Honourable journalists,
Despite all these facts, the ATC had pronounced the death sentence to the MQM workers Ahmed Saeed and Mohammad Saleem while declared the rest as absconders.
ATC (Anti-Terrorist Court - IV) Judge Hussain Buksh Khoso states in his judgment on page 5 on point two (2) in the following terms: " Whether on 12.11.1997 at around 08-05 A.M. on P.I.D.C. Bridge situated on Moulvi Tameezuddin Road accused Ahmed Saeed alias Saeed Bharem, and Mohammad Saleem alias Denter Ganja along with absconding accused Ajmal Pahari, Kashif David, Faisal Lamba, Waseem Tunat, Sajid and Nadeem Nusrat being armed with Kilashankoves were members of an unlawful assembly and with their common object at the instance of Altaf Hussain and Anees Ahmed, intentionally committed murders of Anwar Mirza, J-Anilo, Trichi, E-Egbu and L-Jennings by firing at them with Kilashankoves, and by committing the murders of the above deceased, accused created a terror and sense of insecurity in the public, and both the accused voluntarily made Judicial confessions before the Judicial Magistrate on 24.2.99, as alleged by the prosecution.
My findings on the above points and reasons thereon are as under:-
FINDINGS
Point No.2 ................................................................... proved.
The judge in his judgment adjudicated that Nadeem Nusrat was also along with the killers. The Judge has also approved the Point No.2. In other words, the Court having considered all the points concluded that Nadeem Nusrat was present at the place of the incident.
Honourable journalists,
Mr. Nadeem Nusrat is living in London since January 1992. He had applied to the British Home Office for Asylum on 29th. June 1992. You are well aware, that when an overseas citizens makes an Asylum application, he has to submit his passport also as has been the case with Mr. Nadeem Nusrat, whose passport is lodged with the British Home Office since 19th. June 1992. It is, therefore, apparent that if someone does not posses his passport, how could he travel to his country? Therefore, I question the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chief of the Army Staff and the Chief Justice that on what basis the ATC Judge Hussain Buksh Khoso adjudicated that Mr. Nadeem Nusrat was also amongst the killers of the four (4) American employees of the Union Texas Corporation and the driver?
Mr. Nadeem Nusrat is living in exile since 1992 under Asylum. Neither does he posses a Pakistani Passport nor any other travel document then how did he go to Pakistan and returned to London after the incident? Is the ATC Judge Hussain Buksh Khoso is trying to prove that the British Agencies and the Government covertly co-operated with Mr. Nadeem Nusrat? Does the Judge trying to prove that the British Government was an accomplice or an accessory or directly involved in the murders of the American citizens?
It could be witnessed from the judgment that it was deliberately delayed in its announcement in an effort to convert lies into truth. The previous date of the judgment is clearly scratched and it can be seen. However, despite all the efforts it is practically impossible to prove a wrong into a right. Despite all the maneuverings, the name of Mr. Nadeem Nusrat was not deleted.
Honourable journalists,
I do not need to present further evidences to prove our innocence since this judgment itself proving the evidences of the innocence of the MQM and condemns itself as a tissue of lies. This judgment has exposed the conspiracy of falsely involving the MQM in this case and has also exposed the lies.
This is not a judgment but a pack of lies. The way, the "Kangaroo Court" has involved Mr. Nadeem Nusrat in this murder case, it is therefore, evident that the confessional statements were forcibly extracted from MQM workers Ahmed Saeed and Mohammad Saleem by inflicting inhuman torture in custody of the state. It is, therefore, proved beyond any doubt that the Police and other Authorities are forcibly extracting statements to fulfill their designs from MQM workers by inflicting brutal torture in custody of the State in order to get them convicted by these "Kangaroo Courts".
The judgment of the ATC Court has itself proved the fact that the case against the MQM workers in the killings of the American citizens consists of lies and fabrications. I, Therefore, demand to the President of Pakistan, Chief of the Army Staff and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to arrest the judge who in his judgment conferred Death sentences to the innocent MQM workers on the behest of the Government, withdraw the death sentences imposed on the innocent MQM workers. Likewise, withdraw the death sentences against all the MQM workers awarded by the "Kangaroo Courts" and abolish the "Kangaroo Courts" which are slaying the justice. Arrest all the Police officers and personnel who arrest the MQM workers and implicate them in false and fabricated charges on the expressed instructions of the Government of Nawaz Sharif. All the Judges of the Kangaroo Courts and the Police officers and personnel be given exemplary punishment according to the law of the land.
I would like to emphasize that if any MQM leader, elected member, office bearer and worker or any one else is sent to the gallows on these Judgements of the "Kangroo Courts" will be fully justified in claiming Qisas and Diyat against the perpetrators in accordance with the Islamic laws (Shariat).
Once again, I would like to thank you for attending today’s press conference.