Mohtarma Bhutto condemns policy of disappearances
 

Islamabad, 26 February 2007: Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has called upon the authorities to stop the practice of disappearances.

In a statement today she said that the Constitution of Pakistan, introduced by Quaid e Awam, ensures fundamental rights for every Pakistani citizen and if the authorities want a person, they should be officially arrested and presented before the judicial forums.

Mohtarma Bhutto expressed deep sorrow over the death of Haider Baksh, a twelve year old boy, who died due to illness and the inability of the family to arrange his treatment. The Father, a teacher by the name of Mola Bakhsh Nohani, is one of the "disappeared". Since he "disappeared", his family could no longer depend on his income for their livelihood and the young boy tragically died.

Mohtarma Bhutto said that as a Mother she considers all the children of Pakistan dear to her and is deeply shocked to hear of the cruel practice depriving families of their parents through disappearances. She promised the people of the country that a PPP government would immediately stop the policy of disappearances.

She called upon all the people of Pakistan, in the civil society, police, judiciary, military, intelligence and amongst the peasants, labourers, traders, students, youth, women, minorities and intellectuals to support the PPP and ensure that it defeats the anti democratic forces in the forthcoming general elections.

The former Prime Minister said that together we must stop savage and barbaric policies to build dignity, honour, self-respect and opportunity for all our people irrespective of their race, gender or religion as Quaid e Azam had promised and for which the PPP workers were giving untold sacrifices and risking their lives. She noted that just this
month six PPP workers were martyred in Attock trying to restore democracy in the country whereas it had also lost some of its best workers in Shaheed Munawar Suhrawardy, Abdullah Murad, MPA and many others.

She asked the young generation to follow in the footsteps of their elders by supporting the PPP which was the only national, federal, democratic and enlightened party in the country struggling for the political, economic and social rights of the masses.

The Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party said that it was unfortunate that the present regime was unable to defend the rights of the masses as it was too busy with political persecution and corruption which had led to unemployment, inflation and lack of basic facilities, like roads, drinking water, education and energy supplies for the poor. Mohtarma Bhutto said that through a joint bill in Parliament, PPP had supported the rights of women. However, the regime was turning a blind eye to the rights of women. In this connection she noted that supporters of the regime were busy in Sanghar trying to arrange a tribal jirga to ensure the release of four persons arrested on charges of murdering two teenage girls in honour crimes three days back in a village near Shahpur Chakar of the Sanghar district. Media reports said the girls Fareeda Brohi, 13, and Hameeda Brohi, 17 were brutally murdered in the name of honour by their close relatives. The police arrested the four alleged killers on the complaint of Shahar Bano, the mother of Fareeda. Police said they have confessed to the crime.

On Feb 22, 2007, both the girls Fareeda and Hameeda were dragged out by relatives from their house and killed. Shahar Bano, the mother of Fareeda, rushed to the police station to get their help so that the lives of her daughter and niece could be saved. The police took over three hours to reach the village, which was just 15 kilometres from the
police station. As the mother arrived, she could only find the bodies of
her daughter and niece in the house.

Mohtarma Bhutto said it was deplorable that the poor Mother, who had lost her daughter and niece in the most brutal of circumstances, was now being pressured by the supporters of the dictatorial regime into withdrawing the case she had filed over the murders.

She said that our Mothers, daughters and sisters feel helpless, as do the weak and the underprivileged. However, PPP will inshAllah soon return to power with the support of the masses and extend protection to the weak and dispossessed segments of society.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also condemned the killing of a student at the Sindh Agriculture University, who was said to be an activist of the PPP-SB. The killing of the student resulted in widespread protests at the University.