KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain demanded Tuesday that the administration of Karachi should be handed over to army personnel, DawnNews reported. In a statement issued from London, Hussain said the situation of Karachi was worsening day by day and prime minister Nawaz Sharif should hand over responsibilities of the city to army personnel. Hussain said the Sindh government, which was led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had failed to provide protection to residents of Karach’s Lyari neighbourhood despite the fact that the area was steeped in violence and gang-wars and several people had died due to terrorist attacks. Earlier this month, Pakistan's president-elect Mamnoon Hussain indicated in a TV program that the army’s assistance could be sought for restoration of peace in Karachi. Mamnoon moreover said if MQM was a patriotic party, it would not have objections to seeking army persons for provision of security in Sindh’s metropolis. The president was of the view that extreme measures would have to be adopted in order for peace to prevail in Karachi. Karachi is home to multiple conflicts that frequently turn violent, including gang wars, ethnic and political rivalries. Militants are said to use the city as a hiding place and a source of funds obtained through bank heists, extortion and kidnapping for ransom. Moreover, political parties have increasingly started using the city as a battleground for their conflicting interests. REFERENCE: MQM chief demands handing over Karachi to army 2013-08-27 11:38:40 http://dawn.com/news/1038700/mqm-chief-demands-handing-over-karachi-to-army
KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Monday declared his party would again establish military courts in Sindh if voted to power in the next general election. Mr Sharif was speaking at the party’s Sindh Council meeting in a hotel. “If our government comes to power, it will ensure provision of electricity to each and every village and will set up military courts to eliminate dacoit rule in the province,” he said. It was during the second tenure of the PML government (1997 to 1999) that military courts were set up in Sindh for cases related to terrorism, violence and dacoity. Apart from uncontrolled robberies in the interior of Sindh, Karachi went through unprecedented violence during the period. A military operation had also been carried out in the city to bring the situation under control. The Supreme Court ordered abolition of the military courts after one of them awarded capital punishment to an accused in a murder case. REFERENCE: Nawaz says he will again set up military courts in Sindh BY HABIB KHAN GHORI 2012-01-03 02:25:52 http://beta.dawn.com/news/685206/musharrafs-team-being-fostered-in-new-cantonment-nawaz
Altaf calls for martial law in Punjab: KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain said on Monday that martial law should be imposed in Punjab since crimes against women and kidnappings for ransom were rife in the province. He appealed to the people and students of Punjab to support his party`s demand. “Those who impose martial law every now and then, why are they not coming forward to end the curse of extortion, killings and other crimes,” he wondered. Speaking from London to the reinstated employees of KESC at Nine Zero, the MQM headquarters, Mr Hussain said a “revolution is unavoidable” and expressed the hope that generals and judges would not support feudal lords and capitalists, but the vast majority. He appealed to the military and the judiciary to support people if they tried to usher in a change reminiscent of the French revolution. The MQM chief said if necessary, he would return to the country to make it truly independent and self-reliant and provide better living condition to people. “If the military or the judiciary tries to obstruct my way, I will not bow before them and stand by the people.” He urged the nation to support the MQM against criminals, saying that people were fed up with kidnappings for ransom, extortion and other crimes. “If the armed forces do not act now, they would also be put in the dock in case of a revolution by people,” Mr Hussain said. He accused the Punjab government of having failed to curb criminal and terrorist activities and improve the law and order situation. The MQM chief urged the president and the prime minister to eliminate terrorists and militants from the country with the help of the army and law-enforcement agencies. He said the MQM did not believe in ethnicity and stood for the rights of all oppressed people. He warned against privatising national assets for the benefit of a few. He said the armed forces were the most powerful institution and the judiciary was independent, yet the political leadership was confined to a few powerful families. “These families take loans and get them written off and build their empire in foreign lands. “On the other hand, the country is being forced to beg from the IMF and the World Bank and compromise its honour and independence.” Mr Hussain congratulated the KESC employees and said he had always stressed that workers should be reinstated because their well-being was vital to security, progress and salvation of the country. He urged the KESC management to also reinstate 216 employees from the interior of Sindh. REFERENCE: Altaf calls for martial law in Punjab 2011-01-24 21:31:10 http://beta.dawn.com/news/601294/altaf-calls-for-martial-law-in-punjab-2
MQM and its self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain have invited the wrath of most political parties for demanding Karachi be handed over to the army to deal with the deteriorating law and order situation of the city. Ostensibly, the demand, which was voiced by Dr Farooq Sattar in the National Assembly, has been triggered by continuing target killings and clashes between, it is assumed, the returning Kachhi community IDPs who have recently returned to their homes in Lyari and elements of the now banned People’s Amn (Peace) Committee. Although Dr Sattar based his demand on the provisions of Article 245 of the constitution, which envisages calling the army in aid of civil power (by the government of the day), his startling statement has evoked bitter resentment and criticism by the PPP and PML-N, muted criticism and the question being raised of how the situation has come to this pass by the PTI, condemnation by the Jamaat-i-Islami and most sensible people in the entire country. Surprisingly, the ANP, which was approached by the MQM to persuade the ruling party in Sindh, the PPP, supported the demand, at least if its Sindh leadership’s response is to be taken as the party’s policy. Interestingly, the MQM wants an ‘indiscriminate’ operation against criminal and other elements disturbing the peace of the city. Interesting because the MQM stands charged with being the originator of what has now become commonplace in Karachi: political parties all have armed wings, some of those parties (including the MQM) are accused of being behind extortion activities, criminal gangs have for some time been emulating extortion, leading to turf wars, and the general disturbed conditions in the city have encouraged mugging and kidnapping on an unprecedented scale. Dead bodies strew the streets of Karachi on a daily basis and hardly a day goes by without the news of fresh bloodshed. While it may be conceded for the sake of argument that it is these conditions that have resurrected the time-worn formula of relying on the army as the ultimate solution for all problems, wisdom gleaned from the track record and history would seem to suggest that this is nothing if not illusion. It is doubly surprising that a party (MQM) that never tires of reminding us of its ‘victimisation’ during the 1992 army operation in Karachi (Altaf Hussain having fled into exile in anticipation six months earlier) should now contemplate going back to inviting the army in for an ‘indiscriminate’ operation (that could, if allowed, envelope the MQM in its fold too). The ‘desperation’ inherent in the MQM’s call deserves thought. It is ironic that the MQM should only have woken up to the horrible conditions in Karachi after it is no longer in the government. For the past five years, it was a coalition partner of the PPP in the Sindh government. Did that period see an improvement or deterioration in the law and order situation in the city? First and foremost, the MQM should carry out some self-accountability and explain to the suffering people of Karachi what, if anything, it did to improve law and order while in power. The fact of the matter is that the previous government’s tenure saw Karachi slide further and further into chaos, with the police and Rangers unable to make a dent (despite their spirited defence now by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon). The police and Rangers, whatever their limitations and weaknesses (and they are legion), are also hampered by the fact that political patronage of criminal law breakers sees arrested miscreants released through political intervention from on high. As if this was not bad enough, the myriad law breakers arrested by the law enforcers usually get bail or even acquittal from the courts because of the flawed prosecution and judicial system. Unless law enforcement is freed of political interference and the judicial system is vamped up to be able to put law breakers away irrespective of their clout, etc, there can be little hope of improvement. In the absence of the political parties refraining from going down the path of armed wings and turf wars and the law enforcement system seemingly ineffective, demands such as the MQM’s may arise from time to time (the ‘strong hand is needed’ syndrome). Those making such demands have obviously forgotten how army intervention on a limited scale has often led to wider, unforeseen outcomes that the country hardly wants or needs to revisit. Democracy may have its flaws, and ours is still embryonic, but military interventions, invited or uninvited, are surely things we can do without. * REFERENCE: EDITORIAL : Altaf Hussain’s incredible demand Thursday, August 29, 2013 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C08%5C29%5Cstory_29-8-2013_pg3_1
Former DGIB Colonel (R) Iqbal Niazi with Mubashir Lucman (Express News)
Hakim Said's case being sent to military court today: PM KARACHI, Jan 1: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif disclosed on Friday that the cases relating to the murder of Hakim Mohammad Said and Maulana Salahuddin would be referred to the military courts for trial tomorrow. Several other high-profile murder cases like those of former MNA Zohair Akram Nadeem, KESC chief Malik Shahid Hamid, education board chairman Ismail Memon, Col Bilal, and two sons of a former SP Azizur Rehman, would also be sent to these courts within the next
24 to 48 hours, he said. Mr Sharif made this statement to newsmen after presiding over a high-level meeting on law and order at the Governor's House here on Friday. Governor Moinuddin Haider, Interior Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Labour and Manpower Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, prime minister's principal secretary Saeed Mehdi, Sindh chief secretary Salik Nazir Ahmad, federal and provincial home secretaries, IG Sindh, the DIG Karachi, the DG rangers, and the chief of the citizen-police liaison committee (CPLC), Jameel Yousuf, also attended the meeting. Official sources said during the meeting the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the performance of military courts and
it was decided that the number of these courts would be increased. The meeting was informed that of the 49 cases sent to the military courts 12 were being proceeded on, while judgment had been delivered in four cases. Sources said the provincial administration had been directed to complete the investigations into the murder of Iranian cadets and
the Americans on priority basis. The meeting also decided to review all the appointments made in the provincial government in violation of the prescribed procedure and re-evaluate the qualification of such officials. Talking to the newsmen Mr Sharif said military courts were performing satisfactorily and the criminals were being given the punishments they deserved. The prime minister also expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in Karachi which, he said, had improved. "Government's steps to improve the situation were bearing positive results and the performance of police and administration showed mark improvement under the guidance of the governor." He said the government had succeeded in apprehending notorious criminals and the military courts were trying them. He assured that
the government was sincerely working for restoration of peace in Karachi. "The people of Karachi have taken a sigh of relief because the city's economic activities have increased along with the investment reducing the unemployment levels," said the premier. To a question he said the law and order and the national economy were his government's top priorities for the year 1999. PPI/NNI REFERENCE: Hakim Said's case being sent to military court today: PM DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 02 January 1999 Issue : 05/01 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/02Jan99.html#haki
Altaf flays Nawaz for singling out Karachi LONDON, Feb 22: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for singling out Karachi while referring to acts of terrorism in the country during his recent address to the nation. He said the PM had deliberately ignored Punjab where more people had died in religious terrorism as compared to Karachi. In an 18-page statement issued in London, Mr Hussain deplored that Mr Sharif had used Quranic references to justify the illegal,
unconstitutional and un-Islamic killings either in police custody or through military courts. He said Islamic injunctions clearly stated that the relatives of a person killed could either take revenge or accept blood-money or
forgive them - an indirect reference that the relatives of those killed in police custody or through summary trials could demand the lives of the killers. "In Islam, everyone is equal before God, whether he is a ruler or an ordinary person, and Qisas and Diyat can be claimed from the ruler as well." Mr Hussain claimed that five MQM workers had been killed extra-judicially after the imposition of governor's rule in Sindh. Israr Ahmad, he said, was killed by government officials after his arrest whereas Fasih Ahmad Jugnu, Muhammad Anwar, Mubashir Ali and Arman were arrested and tortured to death. "Thus the government is directly responsible for the killing of these five innocent people who were killed even before being produced before a court of law," he said. "Under the Islamic law, their relatives could claim Qisas and Diyat from the president and the prime minister." The MQM chief said similarly, the relatives of around 300 workers killed during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif in police custody or by torture or fake police-encounters could also claim Diyat and Qisas from those who tortured and killed them or from those who ordered the killings. "In Islam it's eye for an eye, ear for an ear and nose for a nose and a tooth for a tooth," he said quoting a verse from the Holy Quran. The MQM chief said by misquoting the Quranic verses, the prime minister tried to justify the killings of the Mohajirs which were being carried out by state agencies and through the government-paid touts. He said the prime minister tried to convey a message to the people that whatever he was doing was right and in accordance with
the teachings of Islam. The PM, he added, ignored other Quranic verses in which the God had directed the rulers to treat their subjects equally and with justice. He said Mr Sharif did not refer to those verses because that would have exposed him and his so-called love for Islam." The MQM chief said successive rulers in Pakistan had misused the
name of Islam for their own political objectives and Sharif was no different from his predecessors. He said that Nawaz Sharif had long been dreaming of crushing the Mohajirs and recalled that in 1992 he had launched an army operation in Karachi to crush the MQM and its people. However, he said, he could not fulfil his ambitions at that time as his
government was dismissed on charges of corruption and incompetence. Hussain said that the army operation in 1992 was launched on the pretext of arresting 72 "big fishes" from Sindh. "The list of 72 big fishes was also produced in the National Assembly. Can the prime minister tell the nation how many big fishes were arrested during that army operation?" He said when the operation was launched Nawaz Sharif had claimed that it would be an evenhanded operation and it was not aimed against any particular community or group. "Every child in Pakistan now knows why the operation was launched and who was the target and that not a single big fish was arrested during that operation." The MQM chief also held the PM responsible for the deterioration in the law and order situation in Karachi. He maintained that before
the 1992 operation, there was complete peace and harmony. "If there is any one to blame for the present situation in Karachi, it is Nawaz Sharif himself, who ordered the killings of thousands of MQM people and created a private army to kill MQM workers," he said. Referring to the mention of terrorism in Karachi by Nawaz Sharif, the MQM chief pointed out that the prime minister conveniently ignored the growing incidents of terrorism in the Punjab, which was
being ruled by his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif. He said that the crime figures presented by Interior Minister
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the National Assembly made it very clear that the largest number of people were killed in acts of terrorism in Punjab. REFERENCE: Altaf flays Nawaz for singling out Karachi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 27 February 1999 Issue : 05/09 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/27Feb99.html#alta
Altaf Hussain Interview with Jasmeen Manzoor on Nawaz Sharif (ARY NEWS 2009)
MQM urges COAS to take notice of govt 'conspiracies' ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has appealed to the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, to take notice of "conspiracies being hatched to undermine and taint the impartial and uncontroversial image of the army."
The MQM's parliamentary leader in the Senate, Aftab Shaikh, alleged at a press conference that the government was making a "deliberate attempt to divide and dilute" the army on the dictates of the IMF and World Bank by deploying it in the PIA, WAPDA and other institutions. Shaikh Aftab said his party had tried to establish contacts with
the army high command but there had been no response so far. REFERENCE: MQM urges COAS to take notice of govt 'conspiracies' DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 30 January 1999 Issue : 05/05 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/30Jan99.html#mqmu
Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad & MQM on Nawaz Sharif & Operation against MQM (ARY NEWS 2009)
Muttahida holding talks with PPP for alliance RAWALPINDI, Dec 14: Muttahida Qaumi Movement was continuing dialogue with the Pakistan People's Party to form an alliance with it at all levels with an agenda envisaged on restoration of Sindh Assembly, withdrawal of governor's rule and military courts, Kalabagh Dam and restoration of peace in Karachi, the leaders of MQM, Senator Aftab Sheikh, Nasreen Jalil and Farooq Sattar, said in a "Meet the Press" programme held at the Rawalpindi Press Club on Monday.
They said the MQM had no option but to form an alliance with one of the main political parties of the country, the ruling PML or the PPP, for remaining in political scenario of Sindh and the country. It is why the MQM has continued dialogue with the PPP for making alliance at national assembly, senate and provincial level. Responding to a question, the MQM legislators said that government and agencies were involved in killing innocent people in Karachi while the workers of Muttahida were being implicated in fake cases. Sen Sheikh said that over 25,000 different cases had been
registered against the workers of MQM within last four years while all of them have proved to be fake and baseless.
He said the senators of MQM were being threatened of dire consequences by the ruling party and their supporters if they did not cast vote in favour of Shariat Bill in the upper house. He said the establishment of military courts in Karachi and CA-15 (Shariat Bill) was a bid of prime minister Nawaz Sharif to impose one-party rule in the country. "We have never talked about the division of the country because Pakistan was founded by the efforts and sacrifices of our
forefathers who left their property, relatives and migrated to Pakistan," he added. He said that armed forces of the country were respectable to the MQM but the government wanted to make a rift between the armed forces and the Muttahida by setting up military courts in Karachi. Speaking on the occasion, MQM parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar
termed the imposition of governor's rule as a planned conspiracy of the government to take total control of the politics of Sindh. Replying to a question, he said law and order situation in Punjab was not different from that of Sindh as according to a report of ministry of interior, 1,071 people had been killed in Punjab from January 1, 1998 till now while in the same span of time 861 people were murdered in Sindh. He said that since their alliance with the government which was formed in Feb 21, 1997, over 300 workers of MQM had been killed in Karachi. He said that all offices of MQM had been sealed by the government throughout the country and majority of their workers had gone underground due to excesses and brutalities of police. "Each and every workers of MQM has been implicated at least in a
single case," he added. He said the arms being shown on TV were not recovered from the possession of MQM workers, but brought from government's arms depots. workers held: Haq Parast Senators have condemned the arrest of
Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers, sympathizers and their relatives. They said the police and rangers raided homes and arrested many workers while at places where the raiding parties failed to arrest the wanted men, they ransacked the homes and used indecent language against ladies and other family members. REFERENCE: Muttahida holding talks with PPP for alliance DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 19 December 1998 Issue : 04/50 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1998/19Dec98.html#mutt
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain demanded Tuesday that the administration of Karachi should be handed over to army personnel, DawnNews reported. In a statement issued from London, Hussain said the situation of Karachi was worsening day by day and prime minister Nawaz Sharif should hand over responsibilities of the city to army personnel. Hussain said the Sindh government, which was led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had failed to provide protection to residents of Karach’s Lyari neighbourhood despite the fact that the area was steeped in violence and gang-wars and several people had died due to terrorist attacks. Earlier this month, Pakistan's president-elect Mamnoon Hussain indicated in a TV program that the army’s assistance could be sought for restoration of peace in Karachi. Mamnoon moreover said if MQM was a patriotic party, it would not have objections to seeking army persons for provision of security in Sindh’s metropolis. The president was of the view that extreme measures would have to be adopted in order for peace to prevail in Karachi. Karachi is home to multiple conflicts that frequently turn violent, including gang wars, ethnic and political rivalries. Militants are said to use the city as a hiding place and a source of funds obtained through bank heists, extortion and kidnapping for ransom. Moreover, political parties have increasingly started using the city as a battleground for their conflicting interests. REFERENCE: MQM chief demands handing over Karachi to army 2013-08-27 11:38:40 http://dawn.com/news/1038700/mqm-chief-demands-handing-over-karachi-to-army
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Article 245 Functions of Armed Forces.
(1) [650] The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
(2) [651] The validity of any direction issued by the Federal Government under clause (1) shall not be called in question in any court.
(3) A High Court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the Armed Forces of Pakistan are, for the time being, acting in aid of civil power in pursuance of Article 245:
Provided that this clause shall not be deemed to affect the jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of any proceeding pending immediately before the day on which the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power.
(4) Any proceeding in relation to an area referred to in clause (3) instituted on or after the day the Armed Forces start acting in aid of civil power and pending in any High Court shall remain suspended for the period during which the Armed Forces are so acting. REFERENCE: Part XII: Miscellaneous Chapter 2: Armed Forces. http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part12.ch2.html
Wednesday, January 04, 2012 - Karachi—Sindh Minister for Commerce & Industries Rauf Siddiqui has strongly condemned Nawaz Sharif’s statements in which he said that his party would again establish military courts in Sindh if voted to power in the next general election. In a statement Mr. Rauf Siddiqui said that Nawaz Sharif has made the statement just for the lust of power.He said he was surprised to see Nawaz Sharif statement about military courts and asked him on whose direcyives he is making such promises. Rauf Siddiqui said that Nawaz Sahrif’s own cases should be taken up in the Military Courts. He said Sharif is not changed despite the fact that he has lost a lot due to his non-democratic behavior. Rauf Siddiqui demanded that Nawaz Sharif should be punished for making the announcement to establis military courts in Karachi. ISLAMABAD: The statement of Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif in connection with formation of military courts came under detailed discussion on Tuesday in the National Assembly where it was severely criticized by the treasury benches, Geo News reported.
However, PML-N MNAs defended the statement of their leader.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Haider Abbas Rizvi wondered 'what enmity Nawaz Sharif harboured against Karachiites that he wants to have military courts in the city'.
"Who is responsible for the blood of MQM workers who were extra-Constitutionally hanged by military courts," he asked.
PML-N's Mehtab Abbasi said he deemed it inappropriate of the statement being associated with Nawaz Sharif, who had waged a long struggle against dictatorship in the country.
Abid Sher Ali of PML-N said for the past nine years MQM had its Governor in Sindh. "Is the Governor ready to accept responsibility of 4500 people murdered during this period?" he asked. —Online MQM condemns Nawaz statement on militray courts MQM condemns Nawaz statement on militray courts and http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/01/03/news/national/mqm-condemns-nawaz-statement-on-military-courts/ Military courts hanged workers extra-judiciously: Rizvi
04 January 2012 MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader Haider Abbas Rizvi strongly condemns Nawaz Sharif's Statement regarding Military Courts for Karachi. Added by CC on January 3, 2012 at 9:23pm http://www.allaboutmqm.org/photo/mqm-dy-parlimentary-leader-strongly-condemns-nawaz-shareef-s
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a major opposition party in the National Assembly having an electoral mandate from Karachi, on Tuesday called upon the government to invoke Article 245 of the Constitution for handling the prevailing law and order situation in the city. “The situation in Karachi is worsening. Killings, robberies, kidnappings for ransom and other crimes have paralysed the city. Criminals are being patronised and the situation has gone beyond control,” claimed Dr Farooq Sattar, MQM’s parliamentary leader in lower house of the parliament. REFERENCE: MQM urges govt to invoke Article 245 in Karachi 2013-08-27 19:32:26 http://dawn.com/news/1038726/mqm-urges-govt-to-invoke-article-245-in-karachi
MQM MNA Waseem Akhtar condemns Nawaz Sharif for Military Courts in Karachi
LONDON, Oct 12: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has asked the army chief and the its leadership to restore democracy in the country at the earliest. "This (restoration of democracy) is in the interest of the country as well as the army," Mr Hussain told Dawn while commenting on the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan.
The MQM chief held former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif responsible for the current situation and said that his "autocratic and dictatorial attitude" forced the army to step in. "Nawaz Sharif had left no choice for the army," he added. He said the foremost task of any government installed in Pakistan should be to hold accountability of all corrupt politicians who have looted the national wealth. He said the army should move fast towards restoring democracy,
adding that the army had been forced to take the action, which was not liked by democracy-loving people like him.
Asked whether he would favour holding of fresh elections within 90 days, he said he would support the restoration of democracy in the country as well as demand accountability of those who looted the national wealth, suppressed the judiciary and subjugated the national press. He said Nawaz Sharif had resorted to extra-constitutional measures
to suppress the opposition parties, particularly the MQM in Sindh. "He (Nawaz Sharif) must be tried for extra-judicial killings that took place during his tenure in Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular." Asked whether he would support a caretaker government set up for a year or two to hold across the board accountability of all politicians before holding the next elections, he said it was too early to say that. "I am waiting for the speech of the army chief," he said. "But whatever decision will be taken, will be by the central coordination committee and not by me." REFERENCE: Altaf asks army to restore democracy Week Ending : 16 October 1999 Issue : 05/42 DAWN WIRE SERVICE https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/16oct99.html#alta
KARACHI: The legal battle between the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (N) and key partners in the ruling coalition, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, further intensified Saturday when an MQM lawmaker submitted a petition in the Supreme Court, calling for the Sharif brothers and their family members to be declared ineligible to contest the next general elections. The petition filed in the SC’s Karachi registry by MQM National Assembly member Advocate Iqbal Qadri calls for a probe into alleged irregularities in the Sharif family’s assets both in and outside Pakistan. The application also asks the court to make public the details of decades-old bank loans that were written off, making both the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the National Accountability Bureau parties in the case. The Lahore High Court is hearing petitions seeking quashment of three corruption references relating to the Hudaibya Paper Mills, Ittefaq Foundries and Raiwind assets – prepared by NAB against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his family members. According to NAB, the Sharif family is a defaulter of Rs3.8 billion http://dawn.com/news/755282/sharif-family-defaulted-on-rs3-8bn-loan in one of the three corruption references against it. MNA Iqbal Qadri’s petition also states that, during former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, the establishment of military courts in Sindh and the extra-judicial killings of several Karachi citizens during his government should also be probed. The petition filed Saturday appears to be a tit-for-tat move by the MQM after the PML-N also filed a case in the SC earlier this week challenging the party command and control by MQM chief Altaf Hussain http://dawn.com/news/760842/pml-n-challenges-altafs-credentials on grounds that he was a foreign national and forbidden under the law to become a member of the parliament. The timing of both petitions is significant as general elections in Pakistan are just around the corner. REFERENCE: MQM files petition calling for Sharifs’ disqualification 2012-11-03 15:18:15 http://beta.dawn.com/news/761277/mqm-files-petition-calling-for-sharifs-disqualification
During the hearing, Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Chaudhry demanded to know how the citizens could be protected when the forces could not protect themselves. Summoned by the court, DG Sindh Rangers Rizwan Akhtar blamed the unrest on armed wings of political parties, which he said were on a killing spree. He said it was necessary to eliminate these for peace in the city. Akhtar told the court that the Rangers had limited powers. They could arrest criminals, but not investigate the crimes properly. He added that those arrested were soon bailed out of prison. “In the past ten months, 28 Rangers personnel have been killed and 55 seriously injured in clashes,” he said. REFERENCE: Karachi unrest: SC summons reports from Rangers, AG 2013-08-28 17:43:49 http://dawn.com/news/1038927/karachi-unrest-sc-summons-reports-from-rangers-ag
1. (S) Summary: The police in Karachi are only one of several armed groups in the city, and they are probably not the most numerous or best equipped. Many neighborhoods are considered by the police to be no-go zones in which even the intelligence services have a difficult time operating. Very few of the groups are traditional criminal gangs. Most are associated with a political party, a social movement, or terrorist activity, and their presence in the volatile ethnic mix of the world,s fourth largest city creates enormous political and governance challenges.
2. (S) The MQM is an ethnic political party of the Urdu speaking community (known as “Mohajirs,” which is Arabic for immigrants) that migrated from India at the time of partition; Mohajirs make up around fifty percent of the total population in Karachi. MQM is middle-class, avowedly secular, and anti-extremist (the only party to publicly protest the recent Swat Nizam-e-Adl regulations). It has a long history of clashes with the Pakistan People,s Party (PPP), which controls the Sindh province in which Karachi is located, and with the Awami National Party (ANP), which represents MQM,s rival ethnic Pashtuns.
3. (S) MQM's armed members, known as “Good Friends,” are the largest non-governmental armed element in the city. The police estimate MQM has ten thousand active armed members and as many as twenty-five thousand armed fighters in reserve. This is compared to the city's thirty-three thousand police officers. The party operates through its 100 Sector Commanders, who take their orders directly from the party leader, Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom. The Sector Commanders plan and monitor the activities of the armed elements. MQM's detractors claim these armed men are involved in extortion, assassination of political rivals, shootings at campaign rallies, and the murder of people from other ethnic communities.
4. (S) Low to middle-ranked police officials acknowledge the extortion and the likely veracity of the other charges. A senior police officer said, in the past eight years alone, MQM was issued over a million arms licenses, mostly for handguns. Post has observed MQM security personnel carrying numerous shoulder-fired weapons, ranging from new European AKMs to crude AK copies, probably produced in local shops. MQM controls the following neighborhoods in Karachi: Gulberg, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Malir, Nazimabad, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Saddar and Shah Faisal. REFERENCE: 203530 4/22/2009 11:52 09KARACHI138 Consulate Karachi SECRET "VZCZCXRO6005 2009: US assessment of Karachi violence 2011-05-22 23:26:15 http://beta.dawn.com/news/630977/2009-us-assessment-of-karachi-violence
July 2012: Leaders of two arch rival political parties, Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM, held their first formal dialogue at the former’s headquarters in Mansura, Lahore and agreed to maintain political contacts in future and work jointly for the security and integrity of the country. MQM delegation led by Federal Minister Dr Farooq Sattar met the Jamaat Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hasan and Secretary General Liaquat Baloch here on Tuesday during which the JI invited MQM to join the “Go America Go” movement and also to join the grand alliance for timely and transparent elections in the country. Others present during the highly significant political meeting were Farid Paracha and Salman Butt from the JI side and Provincial Minister Faisal Sabzwari, Waseh Jalil and some other MQM leaders. The two sides discussed the prevailing political situation, in the context of situation in Karachi and Balochistan, challenges to the national security and the forthcoming general elections. Later talking to media, Dr Farooq Sattar said that they discussed all the important issues with JI leaders and said the MQM has decided to contact all parties to resolve issues facing the country and build a national consensus to ensure national security. He said all the political parties should work for strengthening of democracy, political stability and holding of elections on schedule or before in a transparent manner. He said they also discussed with the JI leaders killings and lawlessness in Karachi. He said there is need for an agenda by all political parties which could give hope to the poor, improve economic situation and promote peace. Dr Farooq Sattar demanded the holding of round table conference to find out solution of problems to national security on priority basis and all parties should debate on present issues. Munawar Hassan said they welcome the MQM leaders at JI headquarters and hoped that contacts would continue between the two parties in the future. He pleaded for a grand alliance to ensure timely elections fearing that now there are speculations whether the elections would be held on time or not. REFERENCE: Munawar invites MQM to join grand alliance to ensure transparent elections By: INP | July 24, 2012, 7:42 pm http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/lahore/24-Jul-2012/munawar-invites-mqm-to-join-grand-alliance-to-ensure-transparent-elections MQM delegation meets JI leaders By PPI July 24, 2012 - Updated 1333 PKT From Web Edition http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-60262-MQM-delegation-meets-JI-leaders
MQM delegation calls on JI Munawar ( Jul 24, 2012)
2012 LAHORE: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami Syed Munawar Hasan Tuesday reiterated his proposal to forge grand alliance of political parties to intensify pressure on government for holding timely free, fair elections in the country. He was addressing joint press conference at Mansoora along with MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, who called on him as head of five-member MQM delegation. JI Naib Ameer Dr Muhammad Kamal, JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch and other leaders were also present. Dr Farooq Sattar said MQM delegation was meeting political leaders, met President Asif Ali Zardari and will meet PML-Q and ANP leaders. He said in meeting with JI Ameer, they discussed Karachi situation, movement of US ships in coastal areas, loadshedding, economic situation, and forthcoming elections. He felt political parties should jointly plan solution of nation's problems and evolve consensus on national security. JI Ameer said a grand alliance was essential to pressurize government to set up interim government and hold timely elections in free, fair, impartial manner on the basis of transparent electoral rolls and under independent Election Commission. He said he had already invited Tehrik-e-Insa'f chief Imran Khan and PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif to join Grand Alliance. REFERENCE: MQM delegation meets JI leaders By PPI July 24, 2012 - Updated 1333 PKT From Web Edition http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-60262-MQM-delegation-meets-JI-leaders
LAHORE, Aug 10: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hasan has expressed concern over the reported involvement of the Karachi Command and Control Centre (KCCC) in terrorist activities and called for a judicial inquiry into the matter. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he alleged that custodians of peace and civil liberties had turned into murderers. Quoting reports published in a section of the print media, the JI chief said the criminals involved in target killings and terrorist activities were allegedly getting assistance from the Command and Control Centre. The reports said that activities of police, Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies were being watched through secret cameras and targets identified. Mr Hasan said the KCCC had been set up during the tenure of Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal and thousands of workers of a particular party had been recruited to it. He said it was a tragedy and a matter of concern that the rulers were themselves protecting the killers of innocent citizens only to stay in power and the assassins were not being arrested despite having been identified. Mr Hasan alleged that certain parties in the ruling coalition were involved in the bloodshed and target killings, adding that some ministers and senators were on payroll of foreign agencies. REFERENCE: KCCC’s alleged involvement in killings: Jamaat calls for judicial inquiry By Our Staff Reporter | From the Newspaper (14 hours ago) Today http://www.dawn.com/2011/08/11/kcccs-alleged-involvement-in-killings-jamaat-calls-for-judicial-inquiry.html
KARACHI, July 13: A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) called on senior leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami Professor Ghafoor Ahmed on Tuesday. According to an MQM press release, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Wasey Jalil and MPA Muzammil Qureshi met Prof Ghafoor at his residence and delivered him a goodwill message from MQM chief Altaf Hussain. The meeting also discussed the overall political situation in the country with a specific reference to developments in Karachi. The JI leader thanked the MQM delegation and appreciated Mr Hussain’s goodwill gesture. REFERENCE: MQM delegation meets JI leader July 14, 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/14/news-in-brief-14-07-2011-k.html Delegation of MQM Rabita Committee Meets Jamat e Islami Leader Prof Ghafoor Ahmed. Added by CC on July 14, 2011 at 1:22pm http://www.allaboutmqm.org/photo/delegation-of-mqm-rabita?context=latest
2012 Leading British Muslim leader faces war crimes charges in Bangladesh One of Britain's most important Muslim leaders is to be charged with war crimes: Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, director of Muslim spiritual care provision in the NHS, a trustee of the major British charity Muslim Aid and a central figure in setting up the Muslim Council of Britain, fiercely denies any involvement in a number of abductions and "disappearances" during Bangladesh's independence struggle in the 1970s. He says the claims are "politically-motivated" and false. However, Mohammad Abdul Hannan Khan, the chief investigator for the country's International Crimes Tribunal, said: "There is prima facie evidence of Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin being involved in a series of killings of intellectuals. "We have made substantial progress in the case against him. There is no chance that he will not be indicted and prosecuted. We expect charges in June."
Mr Mueen-Uddin could face the death penalty if convicted. Bangladesh's Law and Justice Minister, Shafique Ahmed, said: "He was an instrument of killing intellectuals. He will be charged, for sure." For 25 years after independence from Britain, the country now known as Bangladesh was part of Pakistan, even though the two halves were a thousand miles apart with India between them. In 1971, Bangla resentment at the "colonial" nature of Pakistani rule broke out into a full-scale revolt. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were massacred by Pakistani troops. Mr Mueen-Uddin, then a journalist on the Purbodesh newspaper in Dhaka, was a member of a fundamentalist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, which supported Pakistan in the war. In the closing days, as it became clear that Pakistan had lost, he is accused of being part of a collaborationist Bangla militia, the Al-Badr Brigade, which rounded up, tortured and killed prominent citizens to deprive the new state of its intellectual and cultural elite. The sister-in-law of one such victim, Dolly Chaudhury, claims to have identified Mr Mueen-Uddin as one of three men who abducted her husband, Mufazzal Haider Chaudhury, a prominent scholar of Bengali literature, on the night of 14 December 1971.
"I was able to identify one [of the abductors], Mueen-Uddin," she said in video testimony, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, which will form part of the prosecution case. "He was wearing a scarf but my husband pulled it down as he was taken away. When he was a student, he often used to go to my brother in law's house. My husband, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law, we all recognised that man." Professor Chaudhury was never seen again. Also among the as yet untested testimony is the widow of another victim, who claims that Mr Mueen-Uddin was in the group that abducted her husband, Sirajuddin Hussain, another journalist, from their home on the night of 10 December 1971. "There was no doubt that he was the person involved in my husband's abduction and killing," said Noorjahan Seraji. One of the other members of the group, who was caught soon afterwards, allegedly gave Mr Mueen-Uddin's name in his confession. Another reporter on Purbodesh, Ghulam Mostafa, also disappeared.
The vanished journalist's brother, Dulu, said he appealed to Mr Mueen-Uddin for help and was taken around the main Pakistani Army detention and torture centres by Mr Mueen-Uddin. Dulu Mostafa said that Mr Mueen-Uddin appeared to be well known at the detention centres, gained easy admission to the premises and was saluted by the Pakistani guards as he entered. Ghulam was never found. Mr Mueen-Uddin's then editor at the paper, Atiqur Rahman, said that Mr Mueen-Uddin had been the first journalist in the country to reveal the existence of the Al-Badr Brigade and had demonstrated intimate knowledge of its activities. After his colleagues disappeared, he said, Mr Mueen-Uddin had asked for his home address. Fearing that he too would be abducted, the editor gave a fake address. Mr Rahman's name, complete with the fake address, appeared on a Al-Badr death list found just after the end of the war.
"I gave that address only to Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, and when that list appeared it was obvious that he had given that address to Al Badr," Mr Rahman said in statements given to the investigators. "I'm sure I gave the address to no-one else." Mr Rahman then published a front-page story and picture about Mr Mueen-Uddin, who had by that stage left the city, naming him as involved in "disappearances." This brought forward two further witnesses, Mushtaqur and Mahmudur Rahman, who claim they recognised the picture as somebody who had been part of an armed group looking for the BBC correspondent in Dhaka during the abductions. The group was unsuccessful because the BBC man had gone into hiding. Toby Cadman, Mr Mueen-Uddin's lawyer, said on Saturday: "No formal allegations have been put to Mr Mueen-Uddin and therefore it is not appropriate to issue any formal response. Any and all allegations that Mr Mueen-Uddin committed or participated in any criminal conduct during the Liberation War of 1971 that have been put in the past will continue to be strongly denied in their entirety.
"For the Chief Investigator to be making such public comment raises serious questions as to the integrity of the investigation. The Chief Investigator will be aware that the decision as to the bringing of charges is made by the Prosecutor and not an investigator. "Therefore, the comments by the Chief Investigator are highly improper and serves as a further basis for raising the question as to whether a fair trial may be guaranteed before the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. "The statement by the Bangladesh Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is a clear declaration of guilt and in breach of the presumption of innocence."
Since moving to the UK in the early 1970s, Mr Mueen-Uddin has taken British citizenship and built a successful career as a community activist and Muslim leader. In 1989 he was a key leader of protests against the Salman Rushdie book, The Satanic Verses. Around the same time he helped to found the extremist Islamic Forum of Europe, Jamaat-e-Islami's European wing, which believes in creating a sharia state in Europe and in 2010 was accused by a Labour minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, of infiltrating the Labour Party. Tower Hamlets' directly-elected mayor, Lutfur Rahman, was expelled from Labour for his close links with the IFE. Until 2010 Mr Mueen-Uddin was vice-chairman of the controversial East London Mosque, controlled by the IFE, in which capacity he greeted Prince Charles when the heir to the throne opened an extension to the mosque. He was also closely involved with the Muslim Council of Britain, which has been dominated by the IFE.
He was chairman and remains a trustee of the IFE-linked charity, Muslim Aid, which has a budget of £20 million. He has also been closely involved in the Markfield Institute, the key institution of Islamist higher education in the UK. The International Crimes Tribunal, a new body set up to try alleged "war criminals" from the 1971 war, has already begun trying some Bangladesh-based leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami. Trials were originally supposed to start soon after the war but were cancelled by the military after a coup. The new tribunal was welcomed by most Bangladeshis and international human rights groups as finally bringing justice and closure for the massive abuses suffered by civilians in 1971. However, it is now subject to growing international criticism. Human Rights Watch said that the ICT's proceedings "fall short of international standards" with a "failure to ensure due process" and "serious concerns about the impartiality of the bench." "The chairman of the tribunal was formerly one of the investigators," said Abdur Razzaq, lead counsel for the defence. "As chairman, he will be pronouncing on an investigation report he himself produced." The law minister, Mr Ahmed, denied this. Mr Razzaq described the tribunal as "vendetta politics" by Bangladesh's ruling Awami League against its political opponents. Any trial of Mr Mueen-Uddin would also be fraught with practical difficulties. There is no extradition treaty between Britain and Bangladesh and the UK does not extradite in death penalty cases. Many of the witnesses are elderly and some have died. However, Mr Hannan Khan said that Mr Mueen-Uddin was likely to be tried in absentia if he did not return. "We have a duty to bring alleged perpetrators to justice," he said. "They must know the fear, however long ago it was. What happened here forty years ago is on the conscience of the world." "I have waited 40 years to see the trial of the war criminals," said the widow, Noorjahan Seraji. "I have not spent a single night without suffering and I want justice." REFERENCE: Leading British Muslim leader faces war crimes charges in Bangladesh One of Britain's most important Muslim leaders is to be charged with war crimes, investigators and officials have told The Sunday Telegraph By Andrew Gilligan, Dhaka8:00AM BST 15 Apr 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/bangladesh/9204831/Leading-British-Muslim-leader-faces-war-crimes-charges-in-Bangladesh.html
MQM is not political party just a terrorist gang (Syed Munawar Hassan on ARY NEWS)
Bangladesh party leader accused of war crimes in 1971 conflict : A senior leader from Bangladesh's largest Islamic party has been charged with war crimes for allegedly leading groups that took part in killing, looting, arson and rape of Bangladeshis during the country's 1971 independence war against Pakistan. Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan that year – with help from India – after a nine-month war. A special tribunal has been up by the Bangladesh government to deal with charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the war. The tribunal accepted 20 of 31 charges filed by the prosecution against Delwar Hossain Sayeedi of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, including those that he aided Pakistan.
Bangladesh says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed an estimated 3 million people, raped about 200,000 women and forced millions to flee their homes during the war. Sayeedi is accused of being involved in the killing of more than 50 people, torching villages, rape, looting and forcibly converting Hindus to Islam. He has denied the allegations. Sayeedi was arrested last year along with four other leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami who are accused of war crimes, including party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami. Sayeedi is the first to be indicted by the tribunal. Jamaat-e-Islami openly campaigned against breaking away from Pakistan during the war.
The party says the charges against its leaders are politically motivated. Jamaat-e-Islami was a key partner in the 2001-2006 government headed by Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and current opposition leader. Zia, the longtime political rival of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has called the tribunal a farce. The international community has called on the Bangladesh government to ensure that the tribunal is free and impartial. New York-based Human Rights Watch has called for changes to the tribunal, including allowing the accused to question its impartiality, which current law prohibits. Sayeedi's trial is scheduled to begin on 30 October. REFERENCE: Bangladesh party leader accused of war crimes in 1971 conflict Delwar Hossain Sayeedi of Jamaat-e-Islami party charged with aiding Pakistan during war of independence Associated Press in Dhaka guardian.co.uk, Monday 3 October 2011 13.45 BST http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/03/bangladesh-party-leader-accused-war-crimes
Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals British Bangladeshis are among those accused of war crimes in the 1971 war of liberation. The war of liberation in 1971 is still a highly charged and emotive subject within Bangladeshi society. The event, through which the country was born 38 years ago, continues to be a polarising issue, haunting the present. The fact that the alleged war criminals – those who committed atrocities against innocent civilians during the nine-month war – have not been brought to justice is a major cause of contention. It is a source of the ongoing paralysis in the country's democracy and the culture of impunity that dogs all sections of society. It is also at the root of the role of religion in contemporary Bangladeshi identity. Consecutive governments have made pledges to prosecute perpetrators and hold them accountable. None have so far delivered. Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister and the leader of the Awami League, the political party that swept to power in the 2008 elections, has promised to hold long overdue war crime tribunals, seeking assistance from the UN. Throughout the country, there is growing optimism that the victims and survivors can finally receive restitution. With the retreat of the British Raj and the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, East Bengal became a part of Pakistan. Known as East Pakistan, it was separated from West Pakistan not only physically (with India in the middle), but also linguistically and culturally. It soon became clear that Islam, the raison d'être for the Pakistan project, could not unify these vastly different regions. Even the shared faith was practised in radically different ways: the east being far more liberal than the west. This division was heightened by Pakistani suspicion that Bengalis were only nominally Muslim. Their relatively recent conversion from Hinduism (albeit a century or so ago) made them, in the eyes of the West Pakistani ruling elite, unreliable coreligionists. To pave over the cracks, in 1952 it was ordained that Urdu, with its echoes of the sacred language, Arabic, would be the official language of the two sides. There was widespread resistance to this in East Pakistan and when student protesters were shot dead, the first martyrs of what was to become the liberation movement were created. The two wings hobbled along together until 1970 when, after 12 years of military rule, East and West Pakistan went to the ballot. The outright winner of the election was the Awami League. However, the West Pakistani administration refused to allow the party's then leader, Mujibur Rahman (father of the current prime minister), a Bengali from East Pakistan, to form the government. Their chosen man was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As negotiations between both sides broke down and Bengalis launched a campaign of civil disobedience, the Pakistani army launched Operation Searchlight in March 1971. Up to three million Bengalis were murdered in the crackdown and more than 200,000 women were raped or sexually assaulted. To escape the genocide, 10 million people crossed the border into India. Atrocities were committed by the occupying Pakistani soldiers and their Bengali collaborators. The latter, known as razakars, were against the break-up as it was contrary to their vision of building an Islamic khilafat, or state. Thus the idealism of a secular identity, based upon Bengali nationalism as articulated by Mujibur Rahman was abhorrent to them. The razakars were in the main members of Islamist parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which is allied to Wahhabism and to the fundamentalist Deobandi sect. Using local knowledge, they perpetrated the worst brutalities and massacres of the war. They rounded up and executed people who they thought were colluding with India to divide Pakistan. This included members of the Awami League party, intellectuals, guerrilla fighters who were involved in skirmishes against the army and Hindus. In reality, much of the killing was indiscriminate. The carnage of those few months has been collected in rooms full of black and white photographs in the Liberation Museum in Dhaka. They depict chilling images of mass burial pits with decomposing bodies, the remnants of the slaughter of entire villages. Mujibur Rahman did initiate trials against war criminals but he was assassinated in 1975. Last year, the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, a civil society initiative in Bangladesh, released the most comprehensive list of alleged suspects to date. It includes the late Yahya Khan, president of Pakistan at the time, but the majority are Bengali razakars as well as previous and current leaders of JI. Many of these fled in the aftermath of the war and some came to the UK. Among the numerous ways in which consecutive Bangladeshi governments have lagged behind public opinion, the inaction with regard to trying the alleged war criminals is the least forgivable for many. Undeterred, Bengali civil society has continued to be vociferous in making sure this issue does not disappear. Unless trials are seen to be free and fair, they will be perceived as political point-scoring by the Awami League. It is incumbent on the British Bangladeshi community, together with wider British society, to join the demands to bring the Bangladeshi war criminals to justice. It is also time to rethink a period of history which has continuing ramifications for today. • On 13 October this article was changed following a legal complaint. REFERENCE: Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals British Bangladeshis are among those accused of war crimes in the 1971 war of liberation. The nation needs justice Delwar Hussain guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 7 October 2009 12.00 BST http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/07/bangladesh-war-crimes
Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief indicted for crimes in 1971 war A special Bangladeshi tribunal on Sunday indicted an 89-year-old former chief of fundamentalist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami on 61 charges for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, months after he was arrested. "The International Crimes Tribunal indicted Professor Ghulam Azam for five types of crimes he committed during the 1971 Liberation War," said prosecuting lawyer Syed Rezaur Rahman. "The charges have been framed against you on the basis of the chargesheet," chairman of the three-judge panel of International Crimes Tribunal Justice Mohammad Nizamul Huq told Azam after the fundamentalist leader was brought to the dock from the prison on a wheelchair under heavy security. The tribunal read out the 61 charges against Azam under five categories including conspiracy, planning, incitement, complicity and murder during the nine-month war. The panel set June 5 as the date for starting the trial against Azam, who had pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him. Azam was the former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami in the then East Pakistan wing of the fundamentalist party and provincial minister under the Pakistani junta in 1971. The prosecution earlier described him as the "key collaborator" of the then Pakistani junta, alleging he masterminded the alleged atrocities including mass murders of Bengalis during the Liberation War. According to the Bangladeshi authorities, up to three lakh people were killed in the bloody war. Azam rejected the charges, calling them "politically motivated" when the tribunal asked him if he was "guilty or not". "I don't think of myself as guilty," said Azam, who has been kept at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University since his arrest on January 11, 2012. Azam's party opposed Bangladesh's 1971 independence, with many of its activists joining the auxiliary forces of the Pakistani troops. REFERENCE: Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief indicted for crimes in 1971 war May 13, 2012 19:48 IST Anisur Rahman In Dhaka http://www.rediff.com/news/report/former-jamaat-e-islami-chief-indicted-for-crimes-in-1971-war/20120513.htm
On December 14, 1971, Islamabad was optimistic and puzzled in equal measure. Officials waited by their telephone sets. News from Dhaka was discouraging. The Pakistani political leadership stayed put, dejected. The economy showed little sign of recovery as the war went on. At the UN, foreign minister Bhutto was perplexed, following developments in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the Soviet leadership contacted the United States and told Nixon that he should stress upon Pakistan that it should “embark on the path towards political settlement in East Pakistan on the basis which is now rather clear”, perhaps suggesting that since the Indian army was about to capture Dhaka, Pakistan should accept the political reality. It was in this context that it vetoed the US-sponsored resolution for the third time aimed at bringing ceasefire; the Soviets did so in order to give India the time to implement its plan. As the military thrust against Dhaka mounted, diplomatic efforts also mounted but with little hope. Responding to the Soviet proposal, President Yahya wrote to Nixon, “The Russian proposal about the ceasefire, withdrawal and negotiations has now clearly been demonstrated to have been only a hoax as passage of time is clearly playing in the hands of Russians. We are convinced that after acquiring East Pakistan, they will let the Indians turn their might single-mindedly against West Pakistan for which they have already begun to equip the Indians”. In his letter Yahya wanted the US to go beyond mere warnings and demarches to show its determination to punish aggression across international borders to have any effect on the Soviet Union and India. “The Seventh Fleet does not only have to come to our shores but also to relieve certain pressures which we by ourselves were not in a position to cope with,” he wrote. Meanwhile, Yahaya acknowledged that the situation in East Pakistan had hopelessly deteriorated. In Islamabad he showed the report of M A Malik sent on December 13 that conditions were chaotic. As it became irretrievable, and for over-riding humanitarian reasons, the Pakistan President had given widest possible latitude to Bhutto at the UN to effect a ceasefire and troop withdrawal. Nixon had already sent messages to the Indian government not to take up their plans against West Pakistan, yet Yahya had certain apprehensions especially after the build-up of Indian troops and action against Karachi and other parts of West Pakistan. The next day, President Brezhnev wrote to Nixon assuring him that there would be no all-out military action against the Western wing. December was crucial in deciding the fate of East Pakistan. Indian military action was in full throttle. Sensing a hopeless situation the armed activists of the pro-Pakistan Al Shams and Al Badar reportedly picked up some 100 physicians, professors, writers and engineers in Dhaka and killed them. The day is marked on the Bangladesh calendar as the Day of the martyred intellectual. They were buried in a mass grave. This created a scar that would never be healed. The atrocity was followed by the bombing of the Indian air force on Governor’s House, forcing the ministers and the governor to seek refuge with the International Red Cross. The situation was now beyond all control. At this juncture, Indian, de-facto Bangladeshi and American officials were examining the fallout of the imminent fall of Dhaka. Refugees were the most important humanitarian problem. US Ambassador George Bush (Senior) (later US President) had spoken to Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh, who among other issues mentioned the status of Biharis. In his opinion, “India is very much aware of the need to protect Biharis… [it] will establish safe areas under Indian control and assist in repatriation to West Pakistan if they desire.” This was perhaps not acceptable to the US which “was still attempting to see whether UN action could be useful.” As far as the refugee problem was concerned, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh had separate claims. India claimed there were some 100,000 Bengalis in West Pakistan who should be repatriated and Pakistan should take some 600,000 non-Bengali Muslims from Bangladesh who may want to go to West Pakistan. Pakistan said that there were 260,000 Biharis in Bangladesh who should be considered Bangladeshis now and Dhaka must retain them as they were their citizens. This issue did not attract much importance when the war was still on but it was on the agenda to be taken up as the parties sat for negotiations. Meanwhile, the Indian troops and Mukti Bahini were advancing quickly and by December 14, the efforts for a ceasefire continued without bearing any fruit. Bhutto had made a request for a special UN Council session for the next day. REFERENCE: A leaf from history: Bangladesh on the horizon By Shaikh Aziz 22nd April, 2012 http://dawn.com/2012/04/22/a-leaf-from-history-bangladesh-on-the-horizon/
Soon after the military operation ‘Searchlight’ began in former East Pakistan on March 25, 1971, the uprising became the subject of discussion all over the world. Chained by censorship, West Pakistan newspapers did not give a single word to their readers about what was happening in the Eastern wing; hence only foreign news radio was heard and believed. BBC’s were the most popular broadcasts. March and April saw the worst. Roads were literally littered with garbage and bodies. The latter included Bengalis and non-Bengalis, Muslims and Hindus, without discrimination. In the absence of evidence it is still a bitter controversy as to who did most of the killing. The estimate of deaths swing between 300,000 to three million. Reports say that some 220,000 girls and women were raped and after gaining independence a UN team was sent to help them. Some foreign agencies reported that more than 10 million refugees fled to India. Confirmed reports could not be obtained owing to the fact that in the absence of independent sources the information remained murky at best. However, most writers believe that there were over three million deaths between March 1971 and December 1971. Repression by the Pakistan armed forces had begun from the moment the announcement of establishing Bangladesh was made. Due to the situation, the country faced acute shortage of food and medicines. Atrocities continued making headlines in the international media. Many reported ghastly nature of killings; some said that many women were mutilated before they were killed. Mukti Bahini activists helped by India did not hide their identity in committing inhuman deeds either, but they were quickly countered by a number of civilian volunteer groups who were armed by the army to get organised and stage encounters. History will record with disgust the role of such organisations which undertook arson, looting and dishonouring not only of pro-Awami League people but also of innocent Bengalis. They included members and supporters of the right-wing parties, led by Jamat-i-Islami. They had been routed by Awami League in 1970 elections and now wanted to take full revenge by calling the AL anti-Islam. The most active were three armed groups, Al Shams, Al Badar and the Razakar. These and other similar groups were accused of working as thunder squads, looting and disgracing Bengalis who were labelled as non-Muslim. Reports said that before action, these groups used to prepare plans and lists of those who were to be taken to task. Bengali nationalist armed groups responded by unleashing their fury on Beharis and other non-Bengalis. It is hard to understand why Yahya Khan seemed so confident about the success of his Operation Searchlight and thought that peace had been restored as thousands succumbed to death. In the beginning of April 1971 he was told by his cronies that the situation had improved. Generals Hamid, M Pirzada, Omar and Rao Farman Ali even told him that the issue of East Pakistan had been resolved. Banking on their advice former judge Justice Corneillius was asked to prepare a constitution for the country which should grant maximum provincial autonomy to East Pakistan while remaining a part of Pakistan. In fact the situation had gone contrary to all that. Politicking continued in West Pakistan. Bhutto kept meeting Yahya and his men, however Yahya appeared to be losing the reins. On May 24, at a press conference in Karachi, Yahya painted a very gloomy picture of the country’s affairs and said that the economy had fallen to the lowest ebb. His answers to newsmen were irrelevant and sometimes off the subject. His approach towards the East Pakistan crisis seemed to have changed, and he appeared to evolve some positive solution. What made Yahya Khan change his stance is anybody’s guess, but on June 28, he announced the appointment of a team of experts to form a constitution and pledged that transfer of power would take place in four months. He had the misconception that holding by-elections and making the Assembly functional would cool down the people. While Mujib languished in Mianwali jail, Bhutto continued to meet Yahya. He visited Iran and wanted to visit Afghanistan with the aim of impressing upon Yahya that he was still popular with these countries. However during his visit to Iran Bhutto gave an interview to BBC in which he said that the crisis had not risen due to Mujib, but then quickly denied having said that. Perhaps he had second thoughts leading him to a new proposition. REFERENCE: A leaf from history: After Operation Searchlight By Shaikh Aziz | From InpaperMagzine | 4th March, 2012 http://dawn.com/2012/03/04/a-leaf-from-history-after-operation-searchlight/
My heart bleeds when I vividly remember the tragic scenario of the fatal night of March 25, 1971. Destiny goaded me into a stormy orbit of the country's journalism. After Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was released from jail interned on the charge of the Agartala Conspiracy Case, One day he suddenly stated, "I need an English Language newspaper." Looking at me he said, "Abidur Rahman, you were a journalist in early life, now God has given you enough recourses. You have to start an English Language newspaper for me." The name of the paper was selected as The People. As per Bangabandhu's desire, his nephew Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni joined the paper as Assistant Editor. The People appeared as a weekly on August 19, 1969, and as a daily on August 15, 1970. This paper played its fearless role by breaking all traditional norms of journalism. In fact The People made sure to print bombshells for the Martial Law Government of the country every day. I derived my courage from my early life conviction and commitment regarding the cause of Bengali Nationalism. When a student of Dhaka College in 1954, I was introduced to Bangabandhu by two young leaders, Mr. Abdul Wadud and Mr. Abdul Awal, in connection with the nomination of a candidate from Kasba of Brahmanbaria during the 1954 United Front Election. Since then Bangabandhu's charismatic personality always attracted me and The People practically became the English Language spokes-organ of Bangladesh's liberation struggle. On March 1, 1971, Eleven Editors of daily newspapers, including myself and Enayetullah Khan, editor of Weekly Holiday, were summoned at the Martial Law H.Q. where Lt. General Sahebjada Yaqub Ali Khan, Zonal Martial Law Administrator, dramatically entered the room, took his seat quietly and after giving an apparently courteous cursory look pronounced the promulgation of a few Martial Law Regulations, such as MLR 117, 119, 124 and 129. He announced in a grim voice, "No news, good or bad, whatsoever about the Army," after which Lt. General Yaqub Ali Khan gave a pungent look at me and said, "Mr. Abidur Rahman, I hope you got the message right." I instantly replied, "I got your message absolutely right, General." Both of us could decipher the camouflaged inner message of each others statements. Having majority seats in the National Assembly elected in December, 1970, it had been agreed that the first Assembly Session would be held on March 3, 1971, in Dhaka but on March 1 Pakistan's Chief Martial Law Administrator General, Aga Mohammed Yahya Khan, suddenly cancelled the meeting upon which a mass protest revolted all over Dhaka and during which the Pakistan Army opened fired and even killed a few people. Upon arriving to Bangabandhu's house later on, I told him the news regarding publishing news about the Army to which he muttered, "Bastards now stopped all avenues for my news to go to the outside world." Gathering courage I asked, "Shall I defy the Martial Law Regulations, leader?" Bangabandhu embraced me and replied, "Go ahead. You have all my blessing with you." I immediately came back to the office to publish the one-page telegram of The People with the caption: "Three Bengalees killed by Pak Army: Bengalees take up arms." That night Brigadier Zilani called in to say, "So, Mr. Abidur Rahman, you have violated the Martial Law Regulation!" I immediately replied, "Yes, Brigadier, I have done it. Your General asked me not to publish any news about the Army. My General asked me to do it. Any other question Brigadier?" and I just hung up. And only half an hour later Bangabandhu called to say, "Brigadier Rao Forman Ali Khan informed me that they are going to arrest you tonight. I said straight away, if you touch Abidur Rahman, you touch me." It was his nature to provide all-out support to those involved in carrying out his instructions. However, since then I defied Martial Law almost everyday in printing News, Stories, Editorials and Post Editorials in The People with boundless courage. On March 10 that year, I wrote a story titled "No judge available for administering oath taking of new governor" followed by many editorials including "Withdraw 'alien' barbarous Army" on March 19, 1971. Since the beginning of that month the office of The People became a meeting place of all Nationalist forces. The People on March 23 printed my piece titled "A flag of freedom born with stains of martyrs' blood" with a photo of the Bangladesh flag waving. Many other cartoons mocking Yahya and celebrating Bangladesh Nationalism followed and as a result of which The People and me had to bear a progressively growing grudge against us. Anonymous telephone calls and threats against my family increased where they finally took their revenge on the night of March 25, 1971. I often slept in the office during those days but many, including a spiritually gifted well-wisher, advised me to leave early and that I should be especially on guard that night. I followed the advice and around midnight had been informed that "an army tank is moving towards our office." That was the last call received after which all the telephone lines of the city were snapped; turning Dhaka into a Horror Place -- shuddered by the ceaseless sound of firing. It seemed as if doomsday had arrived. We shut all the doors, windows and grouped together in one large room for hours. Tension heightened as an Army convoy entered Road 22 in Dhanmondi -- they were obviously looking for some nameplate through their "Operation Searchlight." They could not find it but I was sure that given my strained relationship with the Martial Law Government, they were definitely looking for mine. Thank God, I had a conspicuous red and white English nameplate since on February 21 that year some boys had taken away the original one (because it was in English). And so the Army left the area. The city was under curfew and we only heard and saw gunfire flaming around the city, never sure where it was. The sudden 'Dead City' eclipsed by the horror sounds with the threat for death looming left behind a mirror image of a graveyard -- with it's entire speechless population frozen in fear. On March 27 morning, the curfew was lifted for four hours. One of the security guards of The People rushed to my place in tears letting me know that the office was under attack by a Tank and how the Army contingent had set it on fire. It was an irony of fate that the high flames of fire the whole city saw on the night of March 25 was the fire rising from my office. I left within half an hour that morning while my family moved out right after. We later heard that in the next hour the Army located and raided our home and finding no one there, they shot our pet deer instead. I was also informed about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's arrest as well as about the massive genocide all over the country as part of "Operation Searchlight." I shall fail in my moral duty unless I pay my homage to three great souls who were sacrificed on the altar of The People. One was a worker of the printing press there and two other boys, Esha of Shahbajpur of Brahmanbaria, who cooked our meals, and Fazlu of Barisal, who served them, were shot dead that night. As I used to publish The People as a weekly from Calcutta during the Liberation War, as a spokes-organ of the Freedom Fighters I returned to Dhaka on December 22, 1971, along with a colleague of mine. We came straight to the ruined and ravaged office and found two broken skeletons lying there. I still have a shocking memory of that day. It was obvious that out of the fear for vengeance no one had the courage to come near the office. It was also obvious whose remains these skeletons were -- two great souls, who must have been shot in the room of their 'Beloved Editor' of The People on the night of March 25. The writer is former Editor of The People. REFERENCE: Flashback of the night of March 25, 1971 First-hand account of Operation Searchlight Monday, March 26, 2012 Abidur Rahman http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=227687 MQM Mustafa Kamal exposes that terrorist Jamat-e-Islami is actually Jewish,US agent. URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nipLrouYwDY&feature=related
DHAKA: March 25, 1971. The incessant roar of gunfire dominated the midnight hour. Petrified men, women and children huddled together in their homes not knowing what the future held for them. Only the previous day they had witnessed the hoisting of a new national flag. Pakistan’s star and crescent ensign had not been unfurled as before. That had led to a confrontation between the security forces and the ‘miscreants’ agitating for the independence of Bangladesh. What happened on that fateful night became part of our disjointed history. It was target killing of another kind. If you were a Bengali, or looked like one, you faced certain death. We didn’t know about that until the next morning. I was then living in an apartment in a multi-ethnic, middle-class locality of Dhaka. For years we had lived in amity with our neighbours sharing each other’s joys and sorrows. But feelings were changing. Friendships were giving way to animosity. Suspicion and distrust soured relationships. When the curfew was lifted for a few hours in the morning of March 26, I stepped out of my apartment to shop for some food for the family. Suddenly I was stopped by a car that screeched to a halt besides me. The occupants asked me brusquely where I was going. When I told them why I was out on the street at a time when most preferred the safety of their homes, they offered to take me to the market which was not far and insisted that I accompany them. I realised that all was not well and they were looking for easy targets. I then began talking to them in highly Persianised Urdu to establish my ethnic identity. I was wearing a kurta and pyjama that was and still remains the attire of Muslim Bengalis. By then the urban population had discarded the lungi which previously distinguished the natives from the migrants. After driving a short distance, my ‘benefactors’ realised that this was a case of mistaken identity. They lost interest in including me in their wild killing spree. Hurriedly, they dropped me by the roadside saying they had an urgent chore and therefore could not take me to the market. I thanked my stars. We never came to know how many people were killed on that terrible night. Later we learnt that among the unfortunate victims were leading intellectuals, writers, professors, artists, poets and exceptionally bright professionals. Among those innocent people were Prof Guha, Prof Thakur Das and Munier Choudhry. They were patriots working tirelessly for the improvement of their homeland. The list of potential victims had been meticulously prepared with the help of the leaders and activists of some newly formed organisations called Al Shams and Al Badr. Though such allegations were refuted vociferously by the government, it was generally believed that there was a great deal of truth in the rumours that were circulating. The bodies of the slain were later discovered scattered in the vicinity of Mohammadpur, a housing colony which was founded by Field Marshal Ayub Khan for the rehabilitation of Muslims uprooted from India. The massacre of March 25 backfired. The public anger at the killing of Bengali intellectuals exposed the minority Urdu-speaking population to the vendetta that was inevitable. They were isolated and thereafter lived in perpetual fear that instilled in them a ghetto mentality they could never shed. For years they had chased illusions and false images while claiming a sham superiority in number and intellect that simply did not exist. Without attempting to assimilate themselves into the local population, the Urdu speakers trumpeted their links with West Pakistan while repudiating the language and culture of the Bengalis whose political aspirations they contemptuously rejected. Hence in 1971, when the liberation struggle reached a decisive stage, the Urdu speakers vehemently supported the army action. When the Bengali resistance managed to cut off supply of essential food to the cantonment areas, the Urdu speakers stepped in to provide the security agencies with all necessary facilities. Had they not done so, the Pakistan Army would have faced certain death. March 25 marks a watershed in our chequered history. The following day, furious Bengalis assembled to announced the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state. The proclamation of independence was written on a scrap of paper torn from an exercise book which was read out in an open place at a meeting of top Awami League leaders. Thenceforth March 26 came to be observed by Bangladesh as its official independence day. Today when our leaders proudly speak of Pakistan having survived for sixty years, they fail to mention that the Pakistan we have today is not the country that was born in 1947. The politicians who followed the Quaid failed to understand the psyche of the people of the eastern wing. The dynamics of political power, economic resources, and language and culture eluded our leadership. This schism existed even at the local level between the refugees from India and the indigenous population. India had faced a similar problem vis-à-vis the uprooted people from Sindh and Punjab. But they were quickly assimilated in the areas where they settled and the crisis was overcome thanks to the country’s democratic structures. This process was never initiated in East Pakistan. It is a legacy of this failure that several hundred thousand men and women continue to languish today in the so-called Geneva camps scattered all over Bangladesh. They suffer on account of the sins of their ancestors. REFERENCE: March 25 — a watershed By Akhtar Payami March 25, 2008 Tuesday Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429 http://archives.dawn.com/2008/03/25/op.htm#4 URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-62kdEuj9PQ&feature=related
Sheikh Mujib wanted a confederation: US papers WASHINGTON, July 6: The US State Department’s newly declassified documents about the 1971 debacle show that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to have a “form of confederation” with Pakistan rather than a separate country. The documents include two telegrams dating Feb 28, 1971 and Dec 23, 1971 “based on the sentiments of Sheikh Mujib and the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,” showing that Sheikh Mujib was not secessionist, as many in the then West Pakistan believed. The telegrams, sent to the State Department by the US embassies in Pakistan and India, document key foreign policy decisions and actions of the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The telegram, entitled “Conversation with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” shows the path followed by the Awami League leader as he “talks of excesses by West Pakistan, states he (Mujib) is not willing to share power and does not want separation but rather a form of confederation.” In November 1969, a year before the war began, a US diplomat sent this report to Washington: “… East Pakistan, one also senses a growing undercurrent that beyond some intangible point the West Pakistan landlord-civil service-military elite might prefer to see the country split rather than submit to Bengali ascendancy.” One telegram quotes Indira Gandhi as saying that President Nixon has “misunderstanding about India’s case” and that “there is fantastic nonsense being talked about in the US about our having received promises from the Soviet Union about the Soviet intervention against the seventh fleet and against China.” The documents released on June 28 provide full coverage of the US policy towards India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the newly created state of Bangladesh from January 1969 to December 1972. Documents from March to December 1971 include intelligence assessments, key messages from the US embassies in Islamabad and New Delhi and the Consulate General in Dhaka, responses to National Security Study memoranda and full transcripts of the presidential tape recordings that are summarized and excerpted in editorial notes in volume XI. The historian branch of the State Department held a two-day conference on June 28 and 29 on US policy in South Asia between 1961 and 1972, inviting scholars from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to express their views on the declassified documents. During the seminar, Bangladeshi scholars acknowledged that their official figure of more than 3 million killed during and after the military action was not authentic. They said that the original figure was close to 300,000, which was wrongly translated from Bengali into English as three million. Shamsher M. Chowdhury, the Bangladesh ambassador in Washington who was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1969 but had joined his country’s war of liberation in 1971, acknowledged that Bangladesh alone cannot correct this mistake. Instead, he suggested that Pakistan and Bangladesh form a joint commission to investigate the 1971 disaster and prepare a report. Almost all scholars agreed that the real figure was somewhere between 26,000, as reported by the Hamoodur Rahman Commission, and not three million, the official figure put forward by Bangladesh and India. Prof Sarmila Bose, an Indian academic, told the seminar that allegations of Pakistani army personnel raping Bengali women were grossly exaggerated. Based on her extensive interviews with eyewitnesses, the study also determines the pattern of conflict as three-layered: West Pakistan versus East Pakistan, East Pakistanis (pro-Independence) versus East Pakistanis (pro-Union) and the fateful war between India and Pakistan. Prof Bose noted that no neutral study of the conflict has been done and reports that are passed on as part of history are narratives that strengthen one point of view by rubbishing the other. The Bangladeshi narratives, for instance, focus on the rape issue and use that not only to demonize the Pakistan army but also exploit it as a symbol of why it was important to break away from (West) Pakistan. Prof Bose, a Bengali herself and belonging to the family of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, emphasized the need for conducting independent studies of the 1971 conflict to bring out the facts. She also spoke about the violence generated by all sides. “The civil war of 1971 was fought between those who believed they were fighting for a united Pakistan and those who believed their chance for justice and progress lay in an independent Bangladesh. Both were legitimate political positions. All parties in this conflict embraced violence as a means to the end, all committed acts of brutality outside accepted norms of warfare, and all had their share of humanity. These attributes make the 1971 conflict particularly suitable for efforts towards reconciliation, rather than recrimination,” says Prof Bose. REFERENCE: Sheikh Mujib wanted a confederation: US papers By Anwar Iqbal July 7, 2005 Thursday Jumadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1426 http://archives.dawn.com/2005/07/07/nat3.htm
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