Pretoria – 24 March 2000
Today, in the afternoon, an eleven-member delegation of MQM South Africa Unit visited the US High Commission in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa and submitted a written petition on behalf of the Pakistanis living in the South Africa. The petition was regarding the double standard of the US Government whereas on the one hand President Clinton has issued a statement demanding fair and impartial trial for the deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while on the other has not issued a single statement demanding the same for Dr Farooq Sattar. Moreover, the petition also included the gross violations of human rights, particularly against the Mohajirs and their sole representative political party, the MQM. It is requested from President Clinton to raise his voice against the extra-judicial killings of Mohajirs, including the MQM leaders, workers and supporters, their illegal and unlawful detention of thousands of its workers and supporters, the disappearance of MQM workers from State custody, unlawful death sentences to more than 53 MQM workers and also the case of displaced families. It should be recalled that Dr Farooq Sattar is the Parliamentary Leader of the MQM in the Sindh Assembly (suspended), former Mayor of Karachi, senior minister in the Sindh Cabinet and the Member of MQM Co-ordination Committee.
The MQM delegation met with Mr Christopher Kraft, Second Secretary in the US High Commission and apprised him of the current situation on Dr Farooq Sattar’s case. They explained in detail the inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to Dr Farooq Sattar during his custody at the Attock Fort. They also appealed to the Second Secretary to ask President Clinton to raise his voice for Dr Farooq Sattar during his visit to Pakistan. The delegation informed the Second Secretary of the illegal and unconstitutional shifting of Dr Farooq Sattar from Karachi to Attock Fort, where he is being denied his right to life and right to defend himself. Attock Fort is over a thousand miles from Karachi and, therefore, it is very difficult for the lawyers of Dr Farooq Sattar to travel on a daily basis and defend him. Moreover, Attock Fort is entirely controlled by the Pakistan Army and a special “kangaroo” court has been established to try Dr Farooq Sattar.
Mr Kraft’s attention was also drawn towards the statement of President Clinton demanding a fair and impartial trial of the deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but nothing towards Dr Farooq Sattar. Mr Kraft assured the delegation that during his visit to Pakistan, President Clinton will talk on the human rights violations in Pakistan among other matters. He affirmed that United States of America is always concerned about the human rights all over the world, particularly in the countries run by non-elected or military regimes. In the end Mr Kraft reassured the MQM delegation that he would certainly forward the petition for the attention of Asia Desk of the US States Department.
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