25 January 1999

THREE MQM MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY THE MILITARY COURT IN KARACHI

You may recall that we wrote to you on 15^th. January 1999 and enclosed the report of the Daily “Dawn” an English language newspaper published from Karachi accounting the horrific details of the torture inflicted upon the accused as accounted by them in the Military Court No.1 during their eight hour hearing.

Despite their statement before the Magistrate and the details of torture inflicted upon the accused for the purpose of forcibly taking the “confessional statements” according to the desires of the Government and Police and their denial of involvement, they have been sentenced to death by the Military Court, summarily and arbitrarily.

Despite the Stay Order of the Supreme Court, that will decide on the legitimacy of the Military Courts on 1^st. February 1999, the Military Courts are hurriedly carrying out the agenda of the Government. It is now evident that the “Military Courts” have been established to hang the Mohajirs in general and the MQM workers in particular.

We request you to immediately intervene to save the lives of the innocent members who have been sentenced to death. We are also enclosing the Press Report of the “Dawn” of 14^th. January 1999, that reported the torture as accounted by the accused in the Military Court, once again. Please intervene now on humanitarian and compassionate grounds before the expiry of the time limit.

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