Crowds in protest at Pakistan regime (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Crowds in protest at Pakistan regime

4:26am Monday 12th November 2007 in News By Paddy McGuffin

More than 20 protesters, including a former Lord Mayor of Bradford, took part in a demonstration against the state of emergency in Pakistan.

Bradford Councillor and former Lord Mayor Ghazanfer Khaliq (Lab, Bradford Moor) joined the protest outside the country's consulate on Napier Street yesterday, amid concern for the political situation in the southern Asian state since General Pervez Musharraf declared the state of emergency on November 3.

The protesters, organised by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), waved banners and placards demanding the state of emergency be lifted, and that human rights are restored and a fair election is held.

Coun Khaliq said: "Pakistani people here in Bradford enjoy their freedom and liberty, they want the people of Pakistan to be able to enjoy it too. They are frustrated and angry and want to show support."

He said people in the city were worried that the regime's rule would increase the number of suicide bombs and attacks on civilians, taking more innocent lives.

PPP UK general secretary Choudhary Haq Narwaz said: "I hope the consulate will send our strong voice back to the government in Pakistan that here in Britain we are against Musharraf's dictatorship."

He said a public meeting to discuss the next protest was being organised for Monday at The Venue in City Road, starting at 6pm. We will carry on with out protests until Musharraf relents to our demands and goes."

Members of opposition parties in Pakistan, as well as journalists and members of the judiciary, have been arrested, including one Bradford member of the PPP, Arashad Barki, who was held in the Kashmiri city of Mirpur.

It is understood Mr Barki remains in custody and is currently incommunicado. Mr Barki's son, Zeshan, told the T&A: "We are very concerned for my father and all the people who have been arrested as there in no such thing as law and civil rights within the country, and it's on verge of a civil war breaking out.

"General Musharaff has shattered the judiciary, taken away people's fundamental rights, and there have been a high number of terrorist activities in the country, and all this for his presidential and chief of army posts."

Three British journalists were expelled from the country at the weekend for their reporting of the crisis, and Bradford University chancellor Imran Khan is reportedly in hiding after he escaped from house arrest. Mr Khan has issued statements via the internet calling for the overthrow of the Musharraf regime.

PPP Chairman Benazir Bhutto was also detained on her way to address supporters in Rawalpindi last week, but has now been released, according to reports.

Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said: "Musharraf has alienated moderates and played into the hands of extremists. There can be no meaningful counter-terrorism efforts until Musharraf restores constitutional rule and restores the judiciary.

"Musharraf has defied domestic opinion and the international community by rounding up many of Pakistan's finest lawyers and subjecting them to solitary confinement and, very possibly, torture."

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, has written to Anglican bishops in Pakistan to express solidarity with the people.

The Bishop wrote: "May I assure you of our fervent prayers for the people and the nation of Pakistan at this time of civil unrest and insecurity."