Civil liberties: AWP announces campaign for Baba Jan

LAHORE:  

The Awami Workers Party on Thursday announced a nationwide protest campaign against the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court’s decision to overturn the acquittal of Baba Jan and 11 other political activists. Addressing a press conference, AWP President Abid Hassan Minto said the party was demanding release of Baba Jan and other political activists, cancellation of the case filed against them, publication of a judicial inquiry report and punishment for policemen involved in killing of two people during a 2010 demonstration. On June 9, the GB Supreme Appellate Court upheld the trial court’s conviction of Baba Jan and 11 other political activists to a 40-year prison term allowing the state’s appeal against the GB Chief Court’s decision. The Chief Court had set aside the conviction by an anti-terrorism court in September 2014.  The appellate court judgment is not a majority decision. A detail judgment is awaited.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2016.