Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the Ismaili Shia lady professor from N.E.D. Engineering University died at the hospital bed who was victimized by the university authorities on the basis of religious hate campaign against the Shia community, the second largest Shia sect of the country. The teaching staff, students and employees union blame the university’s vice chancellor and his cronies for her death particularly the teaching staff accuse assistant professor Madani as the murderer of lady professor, who is also the Pesh Imam (leader of a mosque) which is involved in hate campaign against the Shia sect.
The staff and students demand the government to investigate against professor Madani for his alleged involvement in Safoora Goth incident wherein on May 13, 2015, eight gunmen attacked a bus killing about 50 persons from Ismaili Shia community including women and children.
The university authorities also refused to participate in her funeral observance. The vice chancellor and his cronies has also refused to pay the hospital.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
According to the updated information Ms Dilshad Akbar Ali expired on 28 Spetember 2015 due to the complications she was 44. She has been in and out of ICU and Special Care Units was put on ventilator for almost one and a half months for the second time since the end of June. Her medical bill has amounted to a whooping Rupee 3 Millions of which Rupees 1.3 had been paid from her medical insurance, gratuity, and her family’s own fund. The University has not bothered to help her in her hour of need. Ms Dilshad was served a show cause notice from the administration while she was at the hospital even though the administration was fully appraised of her medical condition. the NED University Teachers Association (NETA) condemn issued a resolution condemning the show cause notice which caused a strife between the association and the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, who retorted that the association is meddling with the affairs of the administration Ms. Zakki in her letter responding to the allegation leveled against her by the association, termed the association as “Kangaroo courts.” The association in its resolution had severely criticized Chairperson bias and prejudice against Professor Dilshad.
Ms Zakki was fully aware of Ms Dilshad’s condition yet she forced Ms Dilshad to perform strenuous duty and only granted her leave without pay when she was hospitalized and was on the verge of death Ms Zakki was granted extension in her term of office as Chairperson of the department in violation of the rules for appointment.
BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
The local Mosque leader and lecturer on Islamiat, Mr. Abdul Hayee Madani, is notorious for spreading hate, among the students and staff at the University. He is Pesh Imam at a local mosque, named Madani Masjid, located at Pehelwan Goth, Bhitai Abad, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi. He always refers to the case of Safoora Goth of Karachi with pride. This was an incident where about 50 persons from the Ismaili Shia Community were shot dead while travelling in their own community bus, very close to the NED University. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by a banned militant Islamic organisation, the Jindullah. It has been banned in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The University authorities are very scared of this mosque leader, because they fear he can trigger a religious based agitation at any time.
In the months of March and April, Ms. Dilshad, despite her deteriorating medical condition, attended to the affairs of the Department. She managed in the face of Chairperson Ms. Zaki adding to her responsibilities. Though she was unable to even stand for a prolonged period and her doctor had advised her complete bed rest, she was tasked with added responsibility of hosting and arranging the convocation of the University. On top of this, she was asked to invigilate during the annual examinations, which requires constant standing and surveillance in the examination hall.
As a result of the fatigue, she collapsed and was put on a ventilator at the Aga Khan University Hospital on June 29. She was discharged on July 16, but her condition did not improve. As she had trouble breathing, she was again admitted to the Hospital on July 25, and was on the ventilator till her death.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please write to the following authorities listed below and demand that the family of the deceased victim be provided financial help in footing the hospital bill and that an enquiry be made against the administration of NED for discriminating against a female teacher on the basis of her religious belief. Please also urge them to initiate a high powered inquiry in her death by the malicious campaign against her based on religious discrimination. The government must suspend all the perpetrators till the inquiry comes out with its conclusion of the inquiry.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of freedom of religion and faith or belief calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PAKISTAN: The Ismaili Shia professor died because of the religious based victimization from university authorities
Name of victim: Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, Assistant Professor of English, NED university, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi, Sindh
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Abdul Hai Madani, lecturer at NED University, and leader of a Mosque at Madani Mosque, Bhitai Goth, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi, Sindh
2. Ms. Sajida Jokhio, Chairperson of English department, NED University, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh
3. Dr. Afzal ul Haq, Vice Chancellor, N.E.D. Engineering University, Karachi
Date of incident: September 28, 2015
Place of incident: N.E.D. Engineering University, Karachi
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the updated information in the urgent appeal case of AHRC-UAC-116-2015 dated September 26, 2015, that the Ismaili Shia lady professor from N.E.D. Engineering University died at the hospital bed who was victimized by the university authorities on the basis of religious hate campaign against the Shia community, the second largest Shia sect of the country. The teaching staff, students and employees union blame the university’s vice chancellor and his cronies for her death particularly the teaching staff accuse assistant professor Madani as the murderer of lady professor, who is also the Pesh Imam (leader of a mosque) which is involved in hate campaign against the Shia sect.
I received the information that the staff and students demand the government to investigate against professor Madani for his alleged involvement in Safoora Goth incident wherein on May 13, 2015, eight gunmen attacked a bus killing about 50 persons from Ismaili Shia community including women and children.
I am appalled that the university authorities also refused to participate in her funeral observance. The vice chancellor and his cronies has also refused to pay the hospital
According to the information received by me, Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
I am forwarding the updated information you that Ms Dilshad Akbar Ali expired on 28 September 2015 due to the complications she was 44. She has been in and out of ICU and Special Care Units was put on ventilator for almost one and a half months for the second time since the end of June. Her medical bill has amounted to a whooping Rupee 3 Millions of which Rupees 1.3 had been paid from her medical insurance, gratuity, and her family’s own fund. The University has not bothered to help her in her hour of need. Ms Dilshad was served a show cause notice from the administration while she was at the hospital even though the administration was fully appraised of her medical condition. the NED University Teachers Association (NETA) condemn issued a resolution condemning the show cause notice which caused a strife between the association and the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, who retorted that the association is meddling with the affairs of the administration Ms. Zakki in her letter responding to the allegation leveled against her by the association, termed the association as “Kangaroo courts.” The association in its resolution had severely criticized Chairperson bias and prejudice against Professor Dilshad.
Ms Zakki was fully aware of Ms Dilshad’s condition yet she forced Ms Dilshad to perform strenuous duty and only granted her leave without pay when she was hospitalized and was on the verge of death Ms Zakki was granted extension in her term of office as Chairperson of the department in violation of the rules for appointment.
Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
I am also shocked to know that how universities are working under the pressure from Pesh Imams of the local mosque. The local Mosque leader and lecturer on Islamiat, Mr. Abdul Hayee Madani, is notorious for spreading hate, among the students and staff at the University. He is Pesh Imam at a local mosque, named Madani Masjid, located at Pehelwan Goth, Bhitai Abad, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi. He always refers to the case of Safoora Goth of Karachi with pride. This was an incident where about 50 persons from the Ismaili Shia Community were shot dead while travelling in their own community bus, very close to the NED University. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by a banned militant Islamic organisation, the Jindullah. It has been banned in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The University authorities are very scared of this mosque leader, because they fear he can trigger a religious based agitation at any time.
In the months of March and April, Ms. Dilshad, despite her deteriorating medical condition, attended to the affairs of the Department. She managed in the face of Chairperson Ms. Zaki adding to her responsibilities. Though she was unable to even stand for a prolonged period and her doctor had advised her complete bed rest, she was tasked with added responsibility of hosting and arranging the convocation of the University. On top of this, she was asked to invigilate during the annual examinations, which requires constant standing and surveillance in the examination hall.
I am distressed that as a result of the fatigue, she collapsed and was put on a ventilator at the Aga Khan University Hospital on June 29. She was discharged on July 16, but her condition did not improve. As she had trouble breathing, she was again admitted to the Hospital on July 25, and was on the ventilator till her death.
I therefore, urge upon you that the family of the deceased victim must be provided financial help in footing the hospital bill and that an enquiry be made against the administration of NED for discriminating against a female teacher on the basis of her religious belief. I also urge you to initiate a high powered inquiry in her death by the malicious campaign against her based on religious discrimination. The government must suspend all the perpetrators till the inquiry comes out with its conclusion of the inquiry.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Minister
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Mr. Sohail Anwar Khan Siyal
Minister for Home
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariat
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
5.Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
7. Justice (Rtd) MajidaRazvi
Chairperson, Human Rights Development
Government of Sindh
Barrack number 92 Sindh Secretariat
4. B, opposite to Sindh Assembly Building
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 99207042-43
Fax: +92 21 99207044
E-mail: ministerhrd@sindh.gov.pk
8. Mr. Ghulam Haider Jamali
Inspector General of Police, Sindh province
Police Head quarter I.I Chundigar road
Karachi-PAKISTAN
Fax-+92-21-99212051
complaints@pprasindh.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
