By Justice Markandey Katju
A fascist reign of terror has been unleashed in Pakistan by the Pakistan army, abetted by the corrupt PDM rulers, on the pretext of punishing the culprits behind the attacks on Pakistan army buildings and installations ( including the residence of the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore ) on 9th May, though it is common knowledge that the events were stage-managed and scripted ( like the Reichstag fire in Nazi Germany in February 1933 ), by forces hostile to Imran Khan and his PTI party.
Thousands of people have been dragged out of their houses and arrested ( though most of them were innocent, and their only ‘crime’ was that they were leaders, workers or supporters of the PTI ), many tortured and some even killed, the media largely muzzled, journalists like Imran Riaz Khan ‘disappeared’, army tribunals set up to dispense kangaroo justice, Supreme Court orders and the Constitution flagrantly flouted, and other atrocities committed.
In this situation, the people of Pakistan are lying silent, out of fear of terrible retribution.
Now the struggle against violation of human rights and restoration of democracy in Pakistan is being carried on bravely by the overseas Pakistanis, who have held demonstrations and protests in USA, Canada, UK, and other countries. They alone among Pakistanis are capable of doing so, since they cannot be arrested, tofrtured or killed, unlike Pakistanis living in Pakistan.
Pakistanis have gathered outside the UN building in Geneva to raise their voice against the violation of human rights by the regime in Pakistan, and similar protests have been held, and are being held, by Pakistani expatriates all over America, UK and other countries.
The Pakistani Establishment, not content with the repression within the country, have now consequently decided to export its reign of terror, and have started targeting its Pakistani critics living abroad.
The Pakistani officials and embassies have worked overtime preparing lists of Pakistani critics abroad to threaten and target them in various ways. In USA alone it is believed that a list of 400-500 such critics has been prepared by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.
The twitter account PTIOfficialUSA, which supports Imran Khan in his brave struggle for restoration of democracy and free and fair elections, has often been subjected to abuse, threats and ridicule.
The eminent Pakistani journalist Moeed Pirzada who has been living in Washington and has been supporting Imran Khan and his demand for elections, has received death threats from unknown callers, and has been named in an FIR in a police station in Pakistan as one of those instigating the violence on 9th May
Adil Raja, a retired major of the Pakistan army, who has been living in London, has often severely criticised the Pakistan Establishment. As a result numerous false allegations were made against him ( most probably by,or at the instance of, the Pakistan High Commission in London ), and he was summoned and interrogated by the London police for 8 hours.
Numerous other Pakistani expatriates have been similasrly threatened or harassed.
Yet despite all this intimidation, threats and harrassment the overseas Pakistanis are bravely carrying on their struggle and protests against trampling of democracy and violation of human righs in Pakistan. Hats off to them !
I appeal to the overseas Indians ( known as NRIs ) to join them in this struggle and their protests, and form a united font with them. After all, the basic problems of Indians and Pakistanis are the same.
