GILGIT: Political activists from different parties held a protest rally outside the United Nations (UN) office in Gilgit on Tuesday, demanding the release of 12 detained progressive leaders, including Baba Jan.
Awami Workers Party (AWP) vice president Jan and 11 others were handed down life imprisonment terms by judge Raja Shehbaz of Anti-Terrorist Court-1 (ATC) last month on charges of torching government property and ransacking a police station during the Hunza riots in 2011.
The rally was attended by prominent personalities including senior lawyer Ehsan Ali, Colonel Nadir Ali, Safdar Ali, Javed and Rizwan. It started from Gilgit Bazaar and culminated at the UN office where leaders spoke against the discriminatory treatment of progressive leaders.
More than 150 activists holding placards chanted slogans against the sentence and called for its withdrawal. A petition was also submitted at the office, asking UN secretary general to take stock of human rights violations in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
A draconian act?
“The life term awarded to the leaders is sheer injustice,” said Ehsan Ali. “This is nothing but political victimisation and today we announce launching a movement against the Anti-Terrorism Act that is enforced in G-B.”
Ali also questioned the effectiveness of the draconian act, claiming that it is increasing terror instead of eliminating it.
Colonel Nadir Ali, another activist, said police officials actually involved in the crime were exonerated while AWP leaders are being targeted.
Hunza riots
Riots in Hunza Valley erupted in August 2011 after police opened fire in order to disperse a group of protesters in Aliabad. The demonstrators were demanding compensation for their land inundated by the Attabad Lake. Police action was taken in order to clear the Karakoram Highway for CM Mehdi Shah’s motorcade. Afzal Baig and his father Sherullah Baig died in the firing, as a result of which riots broke out and enraged protesters torched a police station and other government offices and also looted a police station in Aliabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2014.
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It is injustice with the national leaders to sentence life imprisonment just because they raised voice aaginst the brutal attack of the police on the innocent protetors. If the law of the land has done justice with those who were killed, while using their constitutional right to protest for their demands. The courts should not mere use the anti terrorism laws to shut the voice of those who are raising voice for the rights of people of the region. The supremem appelet court must look into the matters and reiview the decision of the ATC of Gilgit Baltistan.
Long live Baba Jan and his comrades for their courage and steadfastness against state terrorism, oppression and tyranny.