IF THE INSTITUTIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY, LAWYER’S ORGANISATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION ADOPT DUAL STANDARDS THEN THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE CAN NOT BE ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTRY – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 18^th January 2008

MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain has stated that if the concerned quarters, institutions, civil society, lawyer’s organisations and human rights organisation will adopt dual standards then the system of justice cannot be established in the country. He said that it does not suit those adopting dual standard of  justice to raise  slogan of independence of judiciary. He was addressing a session of MQM Coordination Committee at the International Secretariat in London attended by MQM Convenor Dr Imran Farooq, Senior Deputy Convenor Tariq Jawaid, Members of Coordination Committee Saleem Shahzad, Mohammad Anwar, Tariq Mir, Javed Kazmi, Mustafa Azizabadi, Incharge Coordination Committee Pakistan Anwar Alam, Waseem Aftab, Shakeel Umer and Naik Mohammad.

Mr Hussain said that Pakistan is passing through the most critical phase of its history and in the geopolitical strategic situation of Central Asia and South Asia we don’t see a friendly neighbouring country. Certain analysts appearing on the media are quoting Sir Winston Churchill during the Second World War when the German Army was advancing and it was feared that they will occupy Britain. Then Prime Minister Churchill asked are the courts independent and providing justice? He was informed that the courts are independent and dispensing justice – to which he replied then until such time our courts remain independent and are dispensing justice no one can occupy our country. Addressing those who refer to Winston Churchill and raise the slogan of independence of judiciary he asked, where were the champions of judiciary when on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th December 2007 Sindh witnessed bloodshed, homes, shops, businesses and factories were set alight, and during this bloodshed several innocent citizens were burnt alive. Why these champions of independence of judiciary and human rights organisations did not come to their rescue? Why they did not even come to issue a statement condemning this mayhem? Why the women’s organisations who raise their voice for women rights kept silent over the rape of innocent womenfolk in Sindh, particularly Karachi, during these days? The innocent men who were brutally burnt alive were also someone’s brothers, fathers, husbands, loved one or the breadwinners for their families – so why did the members of civil society, lawyer’s organisations and human rights organisations not even shed a tear? Do they not consider these innocent people as Pakistanis, Muslims and even human beings? Why the champions of justice have kept their silence on the open violence faced by the people of Sindh? – Till today no one from the civil society, lawyer’s organisations or the human rights organisations have raised their voice against the bloodshed, loot and plunder and expressed their sympathy and support for the victims. Do these elements deserve to raise their voice for the independence of judiciary? Can we establish a system of justice with such double standards? Why this double standard by those who talk of justice, such as the human rights organisations, civil society and the lawyer’s organisations, that they make a lot hue and cry on one issue but criminally keep silent over naked oppression, bloodshed, loot and plunder, and not even come to see the bodies of those who died?

Mr Hussain stated that this is not an act of justice. The concerned quarters, institutions, civil society, lawyer’s organisations and human rights organisations who raise the slogan of justice and fair play if they will adopt dual standards then how can a system of justice be established in the country. Those who talk of justice and fair play should cease to be hypocritical not only the country’s judiciary be free, fair and independent but also the civil society, lawyer’s organisations, human rights organisations, political and religious parties should also believe in justice and fairness and should remain impartial at all times. They must call a spade a spade, only then the country will become stronger, otherwise those with dual standards with failed and their slogans for the independence of judiciary will remain hollow.