PAKISTAN: Media personnel continue to be tortured and assaulted 

Dear friends,

It is with much regret that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the continued torture and assault of journalists and media personnel in Pakistan, with a report of three further cases. The persistent practice of such acts undermines the deepest values of commitment to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Intervention must be afforded to investigate and bring to an end this grave crime against humanity.

Case One:

In March 2006, Mr. Mukesh Rupeta, a journalist and Mr. Sunjay Kumar, a cameraman, who were working with a private television channel disappeared after being arrested by the local police with regards to their filming for a documentary of Shehbaz air base located in Jacobabad in the interior of the Sindh province.  This base is generally being used by US forces following September 11 2001.

On 21 June 2006 Geo Television, a popular channel, broadcasted a detailed programme on Mr. Mukesh Rupeta with regards to his disappearance and his arrest.  The spokesperson for Geo released a statement that the only available report issued with regard to Mr. Rupeta was that he had been arrested by the authorities and would be released as soon as their interrogation with military officials was over.  The Home Minister of Sindh government had told the government that he had no information as to the whereabouts of the two men. This resulted in concern expressed by the International Federation of Journalists, following which there were large scale protests organized not only by Pakistani Media Organizations and journalists but also from other Human Rights bodies and international journalist organizations.

On June 22 after three and a half months, Mr. Rupeta and Mr. Kumar, in a severe condition reappeared when the Army handed over the men to the Jacobabad police station.  The two men were then produced before a civil court of Jacobabad before being remanded in prison.

When the relatives of Mr. Rupeta and Mr. Kumar were allowed to see the men for a moment, it is reported that they were unable to recognize them due to the severe torture that has been inflicted on the men by the military. Due to the circumstances, the conditions did not enable the relatives to talk with the men, with the only information revealed that the two men had been kept blindfolded for their captivity whilst being severely tortured. The two men were able to convey that they had been kept in several places but as they were unable to open their eyes these places are unknown.

Mr. Ruperta and Mr. Kumar are now facing charges by the report of the Jacobabad station house officer, under sections 464/465/471 with regards to their filming of the Shehbaz air base and the production of false documents.

As a result of the protests taking place with regards to the disappearances of Mr. Rupeta and Mr. Kumar as well as the killing of two journalists Mr. Jayat Ullah and Munir Sangi, a police baton has now instigated charges against journalists in Ghotki, Sindh province.

Case Two:

On June 6, Mr. Sarmad, a journalist for the Sindhi language television channel, Sindh TV was seriously injured by people associated with Mr. Sohrab Sarki, provincial minister of Sindh and Mr. Hazar Khan Bijarani, a member of the National Assembly opposition party, Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mr. Samad was the first journalist to report in detail about the holding of “Jirga”, an illegal judicial system run by feudal lords of the area. Mr. Samard, had released to the media the outcome of a twelve year old murder case that had been decided by the “Jirga” system. The verdict given by the “Jirga” system, under the feudal lords and district Nazim (Mayor) of Jackobabad had seen the murderers were to hand over five minor girls not exceeding the age of ten years to the members of the deceased family as compensation. In addition, they were to pay seven hundred thousand rupees in cash. Through Mr. Samad’s report this was carried through newspapers and electronic media which infuriated the landlords and political personnel of the Sindh Province.

Dr. Arbab Rahim, the Chief Minister of Sindh resultantly initiated an inquiry into the matter; however this was also through the “Jirga” system. No action was taken as the Chief Minister’s own party Provincial Minister and Local Mayor had been involved in the illegal court. However, a campaign against Mr. Hazar Khan Bijarani, the member of the National Assembly opposition party has since started.

Meanwhile, the office of Sindh TV in Thul, Jacobabad was ransacked and all equipment was broken. Mr. Sarmad was also dragged out of the office and severely beaten. Sindh TV has since closed down their office in Jacobabad and recalled their representative back to Karachi.

In 2002, the “Jirga” system had been declared by the Sindh High Court as illegal and against the constitution.

Case Three:

On June 12, Paryal Dayo, a journalist was seriously injured when a police constable Mr. Gulshan Mako fired shots at him with a kalashnikov rifles in the presence of some police persons and some alleged criminals of the area.

Mr. Paryal Dayo is working for a Sindhi Language television channel KTN TV in Pano Qil Abd Sukkur district. Through his work, he was reporting about the activities of criminal persons and their nexus with the police, and his work was gaining popularity with other TV channels and journalistic mediums.

My Paryal Dayo was seriously injured in the attack, and is currently being hospitalized in Sukkur District hospital.

This was the same television station that had recently lost Mr. Sangi a reporter who had been killed by a provincial minister.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send your appeal letters to the central and local government authorities of Pakistan and urge them to take action on the deteriorating situation with regards to the Rule of Law in the country.  Please urge them to intervene in these three cases, and to ensure that proper, fair and speedy investigations are conducted into each of these incidents of torture and assault.

Automated email letters can be sent by the AHRC Urgent Appeals on-line support system. To support this appeal please refer to http://www.ahrchk.net/support.php?ua=UA-200-2006. For those contacts without an email address, we ask that you still write a letter and post or fax this. If you have any problems or questions using this system, please feel free to contact us at ua@ahrchk.org.

 

 

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