24 November 1998.
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General
United Nations
United Nations Plaza
New York, NY-10017
USA
Dear Secretary General
LIVES OF MQM PARLIAMENTARIANS ARE IN DANGER: THEY ARE BEING TORTURED TO CHANGE ALLEGIANCE:
We are writing to you in extreme urgency for your immediate indulgence. This issue pertains to the lives of the MQM Parliamentarians who were arrested on 21 November 1998. We have already sent you the details of the arrests and the torture inflicted upon them under the Government custody.
The two Parliamentarians, Shoaib Bukhari Advocate and Wakil Ahmed Jamali are under enormous pressure by the Nawaz Sharif Government to change their allegiance from the MQM. It is important to recall that Shoaib Bukhari Advocate is the Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the MQM in Sindh Assembly and also a member of the Central Co-Ordination Committee of the MQM.
The Government Authorities on the behest of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are inflicting vigorous torture upon the MQM Parliamentarians, particularly, Shoaib Bukhari Advocate. They are being pressurised to become State Witness. Their family members are also being threatened of dire consequences.
It may be recalled that in the past the Governments have blatantly used such "pressure tactics" to force the MQM office bearers, workers and elected representatives to change their allegiance. The case of Mrs Feroza Begum, former member Sindh Assembly, belonging to the MQM, is a living testimony of such kind. She was arrested and then tortured to change allegiance. She was threatened that if she did not succumb to their demand, her son Usama Qadri, former Member of Provincial Assembly of Sindh, will be killed in an encounter, who was already in custody.
There are several similar cases on record.
It may also be mentioned that on 29 October, 1998, The Federal Government suspended the Sindh provincial Assembly and imposed Governor Rule in Sindh. In view of the expected "pressure tactics" by the Government, all the elected members of the MQM, including members of Sindh Provincial and National Assemblies and Senate held a press conference on 30 October, 1998, where they expressed their apprehensions that they would be arrested and forced to change their allegiance by the Authorities. Shoaib Bukhari Advocate was also present in that press conference.
You may be aware of the fact that on 20 November, 1998, the Federal Government has invoked Article 245 in Sindh province and has given sweeping powers to Armed Forces. The Federal Government has also established "summary military courts" and has suspended the functioning of the judicial system.
In view of such horrifying state of affairs the lives of the two parliamentarians are under enormous threat.
We request you to use your good offices to save the lives of Shoaib Bukhari, Wakeel Jamali and other detainees and ask the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to use "pressure tactics" for changing the allegiance of the arrested persons.
Yours sincerely
Senator Aftab Ahmed Sheikh.
Deputy Convenor MQM Central Co-ordination Committee.
Senator Nasreen Jalil (Mrs)
Deputy Convenor MQM Central Co-ordination Committee.