PEACEFUL PROTEST DEMONSTRATION OF BRITISH PAKISTANIS
IN FRONT OF THE US EMBASSY IN LONDON

London - 22 March 2000

Today, the MQM UK organised a peaceful protest demonstration in front of the US Embassy in London. Large number of people including, elderly people, women, children and youth were gathered there. The demonstration started at 12.30 pm and continued till 3 pm.

The protest demonstration was organised to draw the attention of President Bill Clinton towards his double standards whereas on the one hand his concerns of human rights and for the deposed Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. While on the other his indifference on Mohajir Crisis and the fate of Dr Farooq Sattar. Surprisingly, the US President is tight-lipped on the matter of Dr Farooq Sattar, who is falsely charged for corruption whereas Nawaz Sharif is charged with hijacking of an airliner, terrorism and attempted murder of not only the Chief Executive but also two hundred passengers who were aboard the plane.

The participants of the demonstration also requested the President Clinton to take equal interest in the matter of Dr Farooq Sattar as he is taking on the matter of the deposed Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. They appealed to the President to please ask the Chief Executive not to victimise Mohajirs and extend free, fair and transparent trial not only to Dr Farooq Sattar in accordance to the law and his transfer back to Karachi but also to other unlawfully detained MQM leaders, elected representatives, office bearers, workers and supporters.

The participants of the peaceful demonstration continued to chant slogans:

WE DEMAND -- JUSTICE
WE WANT -- JUSTICE
BRING BACK -- FAROOQ SATTAR
WAKE UP, WAKE UP -- USA WAKE UP
MOHAJIR WANT -- JUSTICE
MOHAJIR RIGHTS -- HUMAN RIGHTS
STOP, STOP -- UNFAIR TRIAL
STOP, STOP -- GENOCIDE
DON’T SUPPORT -- FEUDAL RULE
RELEASE, RELEASE -- FAROOQ SATTAR
LEADER OF THE NATION -- ALTAF, ALTAF
PRIDE OF THE NATION -- ALTAF, ALTAF

Several participants were holding placards displaying:

JUSTICE DENIED IS LIFE DENIED
DR FAROOQ SATTAR -- A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
SINDH -- A FLASH POINT
ATTOCK FORT -- TORTURE CELL
DR FAROOQ SATTAR -- INNOCENT
MR PRESIDENT -- WE DEMAND FAIR TRIAL FOR DR FAROOQ SATTAR
AMERICA -- SOLVE MOHAJIR CRISIS
PAKISTAN ANOTHER AUSCHWITZ
DON’T SUPPORT FEUDAL RULE
DON’T SUPPORT MILITARY RULE
MR CLINTON RAISE YOUR VOICE FOR DR FAROOQ SATTAR
DOWN WITH US DUPLICITY
ASK FOR FAIR TRIAL FOR DR FAROOQ SATTAR
MOHAJIRS -- VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE

At the end of the protest demonstration Dr Imran Farooq, Convenor of MQM Co-ordination Committee and Mr M Anwar, Chief Organiser MQM UK & Europe went into the US Embassy to hand over the petition on behalf of the British Pakistanis.

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DEMONSTRATION

Following pamphlet was also distributed during the protest demonstration.

JUSTICE DENIED IS LIFE DENIED

FAIR, FREE AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL OF DR FAROOQ SATTAR AND OTHER MQM LEADERS, OFFICE BEARERS, WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS IS REQUESTED NOT ONLY FOR THE DEPOSED PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF AS DEMANDED BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

DR FAROOQ SATTAR, FORMER MAYOR OF KARACHI, PARLIAMENTARY LEADER OF THE MQM IN THE SINDH ASSEMBLY, SENIOR MINISTER AND THE MEMBER OF MQM CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

HE IS BEING UNLAWFULLY SHIFTED FROM KARACHI

AND INCARCERATED AT THE ATTOCK FORT

(NOTORIOUS FOR TORTURE UPON POLITICAL OPPONENTS)

DENIED LEGAL ASSISTANCE -- DENIED RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL

DENIED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE -- TORTURED WHILE IN CUSTODY

UNLAWFULLY DETAINED WITHOUT LEGAL PROCEEDINGS DESPITE THE LAPSE OF NINETY DAYS, WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL PERIOD FOR DETENTION

DENIED CONTACT WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY

INCARCERATED IN A DUNGEON AT THE ATTOCK FORT

MEASURING 7 FEET X 7 FEET

INHUMAN AND DEGRADINGLY TREATED LIKE THE OTHER MQM LEADERS, WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS DETAINED IN PRISONS THROUGHOUT PAKISTAN

WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD OF THE US PRESIDENT…
ON THE ONE HAND VOICING CONCERN FOR FAIR AND
IMPARTIAL TRIAL TO NAWAZ SHARIF AND ON THE OTHER
IGNORING DR FAROOQ SATTAR?

MORE THAN 15000 MOHAJIRS INCLUDING MQM LEADERS, WORKERS AND SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN EXTRA-JUDICIALLY EXECUTED, THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN UNLAWFULLY INCARCERATED IN PRISONS, MORE THAN 53 HAVE BEEN AWARDED DEATH SENTENCES BY ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ANTI TERRORIST COURTS, 28 MQM WORKERS HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE CUSTODY OF THE POLICE, MORE THAN 1200 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES

MQM INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
70 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5ES, United Kingdom
Phone: ++44 20 83589000 – Fax: ++44 20 89059527
Website: http://www.mqm.org -- Email: [email protected]