Islamabad, 15 January 2013

We, the concerned citizens, human rights activists and civil society organizations, are watching with the gravest concern the fast-unfolding events in Islamabad today.

It is the first time that a democratic dispensation was nearing its natural completion.

We condemn the exploitation and the use of women and children as human shields in the expensive drama being staged by the Canadian parachute Tahir-ul-Qadri.  It turned into farcical melodrama when the Supreme Court’s order to arrest the Prime Minister of Pakistan and 16 others re: the rental power case was announced in the middle of his speech being relayed live on Tuesday afternoon.  The well-trained emissary lost not a moment in making the linkage between his unConstitutional demands, incitement to treason and emotional blackmail with the SC’s order, terming it 50% success of his “million man (sic) long march” within 12 hours of the Islamabad sit-in.  We condemn this in the strongest terms.

Likewise, without going into its merits at all, we express, with due respect, our gravest concern at the curiously bad timing of the Honourable Supreme Court judgement/short order in the rental power case, which has been ongoing for months and months now.  We were hoping for and fully expecting the SC to take suo moto notice AGAINST Qadri’s unConstitutional stand and actions, instead of the OPPOSITE, which has wittingly or unwittingly made an unworthy hero out of Qadri.  It is inexplicably strange that Islamabad, the besieged capital, and Pakistan, a country in extreme crisis, had to witness this double whammy today. But perhaps it is not so strange and not a coincidence either.

We firstly wish to request the Honourable Supreme Court, with the utmost respect, to take all possible measures NOT to derail the democratic dispensation at this extremely critical juncture, no matter how flawed and non-performing its governance has been – which we decry and have been pointing out continuously over the last 5 years.

We demand that Qadri come out of the closet and inform Pakistanis of his mentors, whether stationed in Ottawa, MI5/London, Langley/Virginia, or indeed not too far away in Rawalpindi, or closer still, in Aabpara/Islamabad.  We warn him in the sternest language not to exploit the masses in the name of religion or poverty or basic needs.

We urgently demand that the federal Government, all the provincial Governments and all political parties immediately make a consensus statement regarding the election schedule, and their utmost resolve to uphold democracy and democratic norms.

We warn the armed forces of Pakistan NOT to stage either a direct or indirect coup d’etat, by either marching boots down Constitution Avenue, or by installing their proxy, whether in the form of Qadri or Khan or any retired general – or ANYONE.  The new Pakistan may not yet be at Tahrir Square, but we are not too far behind.  We are very closely monitoring the unfolding situation and we will not allow Jinnah’s Pakistan to be hijacked or derailed.  We are alive and we are alert.

Endorsed by:

Human rights activists, citizens:

1. Tahira Abdullah
2. Marvi Sirmed
3. Samar Minallah
4. Dr. Rakhshanda Perveen
5. Ambreen Ahmad
6. Naseer Memon
7. Sirmed Manzoor
8. Saleem Malik

Organizations:

1. Ethnomedia
2. SACHET
3. Creative Anger
4. WAF
5. PRHN
6. PODA
7. Aurat Foundation
8. Bedari
9. WORD
10. Rozan
11. Khyber Pakhtunlhwa Civil Society Network
12. Amn Tehreek
13. SDPI