December 18, 1998
London time: 1.30 p.m.
SHOAIB BUKHARI ADVOCATE, DENIED MEDICAL TREATMENT BY THE AUTHORITIES IN PAKISTAN
You may recall that on November 21, 1998, during a raid at Nine Zero, the personnel of Police arrested sixty-year old Mr. Shoaib Bukhari MPA, a senior lawyer and MQM's deputy parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly was arrested along with Mr. Wakil Ahmed Jamali, another member of Sindh Assembly belonging to the MQM. Both these parliamentarians belonging to the MQM were brutally tortured in custody.
Since then the medical condition of Shoaib Bukhari Advocate has been deteriorating with every passing day. Most recently on 13 December 1998, at around 1 a.m., he complained to the jail authorities of pain on the left side of his chest. Mr. Bukhari has a history of heart pain. The Jail doctor was summoned who, after performing initial check-up, gave his professional opinion that Mr. Bukhari should immediately be shifted to the hospital and referred to a heart specialist. Despite his advice, the Authorities are reluctant to shift Mr. Bukhari to the hospital and to date he has not been provided adequate medical treatment.
We fear that Mr. Bukhari's life is in danger because of improper medical attention and criminal negligence on the part of Pakistan Authorities.