Amnesty International issued 'Urgent Action' appeal for Prof Hassan Zafar Arif
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Posted on: 12/30/2016
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DETAINED 70-YEAR OLD PROFESSOR’S HEALTH AT RISK
70-year-old retired professor Dr Zafar Arif was arrested on 22 October and remains
without access to a lawyer or medical care. He is a heart patient and there are grave
concerns for his health.
Dr Zafar Arif, a 70-year-old professor, was arrested on 22 October by the Sindh Rangers when entering the Press
Club in Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province in the south of Pakistan. He was scheduled to deliver a second press
conference on behalf of the Muttahida Quami Movement political party London (MQM) after an earlier one he
delivered on behalf of the party on 16 October. On 22 October, Dr Zafar Arif was charged under the Maintenance
of Public Order Ordinance for inciting public disorder and detained at Karachi Central Prison with two other party
members, Kanwar Khalid Younus and Amjadullah Khan. Khalid Younus was released on 22 November, and
according to Dr Zafar Arif’s family members, Amjadullah Khan continues to be detained and is routinely beaten. Dr
Zafar Arif remains detained in Karachi Central Prison without access to medical care or legal representation.
On 17 November, Dr Zafar Arif’s detention was extended for a further 30 days by the Government of Sindh Home
Department. According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police South Zone Karachi’s report, his detention was
extended because it was felt that his release would increase tensions between MQM London and MQM Pakistan,
and would cause “disruption of public peace”. On 20 December, the Home Ministry ordered Dr Zafar Arif’s and
Amjadullah Khan’s release. However, according to Dr Zafar Arif’s family, the media and other witnesses gathered
outside the prison, both were rearrested minutes after their release by the Azizabad police and taken to the police
station where he was held in custody overnight. Media sources claim they were both charged due to inflammatory
speech.
Throughout his detention, Dr Zafar Arif has been denied access to a lawyer and medical attention. He is a heart
patient who has undergone two heart bypasses. His doctor in the US has written a letter on 25 October to the
Sindh Government, Federal Government and the Armed Forces of Pakistan, highlighting the importance of
providing him with regular medication. However, this continues to be denied by the prison authorities.
Please write immediately in English or Urdu or your own language:
Urging the Pakistani authorities to ensure that Dr Zafar Arif is allowed immediate and regular access to a lawyer
of his choice;
Urging them to ensure that he is provided with adequate medical care, and to the same standard as is available
outside prison;
If there is credible evidence that he may have committed an offence, recognisable under international law and
standards that he is granted a fair trial and all due process guarantees.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 3 FEBRUARY 2017 TO:
President of Pakistan
Honourable Mr Mamnoon Hussain
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 920 8479
Twitter: @Mamnoon_hussain
Salutation: Your Excellency
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister’s House
Secretariat,
Constitution Avenue
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 922 0404 (PM Secretariat)
Twitter: @pmln_org
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Chief Minister of Sindh
Syed Murad Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
Sindh Secretariat, Tughluq House
Shrah-e Kemal Ataturk
Karachi, Pakistan
Fax: +92 19 920 2000
Twitter: @Sayedmuradshah
Salutation: Dear Chief Minister
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
Amnesty-Prof Hassan Zafar Arif.pdf
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa33/5413/2016/en/
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1/10/2025 12:28:34 PM
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