London
25th February 2000
Dr. Imran Farooq, convenor of the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) Co-ordination Committee, has vehemently condemned trial of Dr. Farooq Sattar in a court specially set up in Attock Fort, where he was shifted in suspicious manner and detained in a small dark room (7' * 7') without basic facilities allowed under the manuals.
Dr. Imran Farooq said that Dr. Farooq Sattar has been detained in solitary confinement in a small dark room (7' * 7') where sunlight is not available and temperature is extremely cold. These politically motivated moves has been initiated to inflict mental torture on Dr. Farooq Sattar.
Dr. Imran Farooq charged that the trial of multifarious cases of the dismissed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which included, murder, attempt to murder and treason is being held in Court of Karachi. While Dr. Farooq who has been implicated in false, baseless and concocted charges shifted to Attock Fort, for trial. This has exposed the double faced policy of Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf's government which could be called as an act of cruelty and highhandedness, and flagrant violation of law and constitution. More over this act demolishes confidence in the present courts of the country.
Dr. Imran Farooq said that according to latest reports the NAB is learnt to have taken Dr. Farooq Sattar on remand till 9th March. The expeditious manner with which the case is handled reflects that the military government wants to deny Dr. Farooq Sattar even the fundamental rights of defence and hastily award him pre decided punishment of its choice.
He said that the present military regime is flagrantly violating the law and constitution of the country that has surpassed even the dictatorial rules of the past.
He said that the Haq Parast People specially Mohajirs are seriously considering that in the whole the country Dr. Farooq Sattar was single out by NAB for trial in Attock Fort. He deplored that those who plundered national wealth, involved in looting, theft and various other serious crimes, have not been taken to task and the criminals are at large. He said that the number of reference against Dr. Farooq Sattar is 1/2000, it means the government had registered first reference of the century against Dr. Farooq Sattar.
He said this fully exposed government's mischievous intentions that in the whole country only Dr. Farooq Sattar of MQM was targeted for reference, while every one is fully aware that Dr. Farooq Sattar is not a defaulter nor he is involved in any type of corruption. He is still living in the same small house while during the period he was mayor of Karachi and later followed by minister ship. Dr. Imran Farooq deplored that those who were involved in plundering the National Exchequer and overnight became billionaire and transferred millions and billions of capital abroad, purchased huge properties within the country and abroad including factories from the ill-gotten money, are not apprehended.
He regretted that the present army government singled out Dr. Farooq Sattar and he is now being put on trial on false and baseless charges. This smacks the attitude of the army government that they are not honest and sincere in true accountability.
He confidently hoped that the people of Sindh would not remain a silent
spectator to this gross injustice perpetuated against the people of Sindh
and Mohajirs. They would not hesitate to raise their voice of protest against
the projected trial of Dr. Farooq Sattar in Attock Fort.