IS THE JUDICIARY INDEPENDENT IN PAKISTAN?

London -- 11 November 1999

Today once again the independence of judiciary was put to question by the Administration of Sindh province, southern Pakistan. According to details, at around 5-p.m. Karachi time, an MQM office bearer of Orangi Town Sector, Mr. Kamal Akhtar Ansari, was released on bail by the Court in Karachi. However, immediately after his release personnel of police once again took him into custody in Armoured Personnel Carrier No. 0788 on charges of maintenance of public order. He has now been taken to unknown destination and it is very much feared that his life is in danger. This is not the first time that a decision by the court has been manifestly ignored by the police. The same unfortunate incident had occurred on 6 November 1999, when the court had ordered his release on bail, but the personnel of Peerabad Police Station in Mobile No. 494 arrested him from the central prison. It should be noted that Mr. Kamal Akhtar Ansari is a senior member of MQM and has been languishing in prison for the past four years on false and fabricated charges.

Within five days Mr Kamal Akhtar Ansari has been twice denied release on the flimsiest of fabricated grounds of law and order by the prejudiced Administration of Sindh province. This blatant denial of the fundamental right to life, liberty and safeguards as to arrest and detention as guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan is a clear violation of the Constitution and a mockery of judiciary. It further indicates that the police and other law enforcement agencies are continuing with the MQM crush operation.

Kamal Akhtar Ansari was unlawfully arrested in 1995 and detained in Central Prison, Karachi. After his arrest he was falsely implicated in 26 cases. During the four years of his incarceration he has been acquitted in most of the cases.