When Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf declared his country in a “state of emergency,” hundreds of human rights activists, lawyers, judges, and journalists were arrested and detained. The fundamental rights of citizens were suspended. Civil society groups and activists are now calling for the proclamation to be immediately revoked.

On November 3, 2007, Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf declared the country in a state of emergency and imposed a Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) that suspends the Constitution and the fundamental rights of citizens, gags the media, and forbids any form of dissent.

Musharraf cited deteriorating law and order situation, rise of militancy, and increasing interference of the judiciary in government policies as reasons for his declaration. But activists question these reasons especially because the President's declaration was followed by a violent crackdown on civil society.

Violent crackdown on civil society

In Lahore, on November 4, around 53 human rights activists—25 of whom are women—were arrested from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting held at the premises of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to discuss the “state of emergency” situation in their country. The arrests were made under the MPO 1960 (maintenance of public order act) despite the meeting being held indoors at a private venue, therefore posing no threat to public order. With no written orders, police detained those arrested for 30 days without charge and disallowed bail.

In Islamabad, Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and several senior judges who were detained on November 3 for refusing to sign the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) have been confined to their homes. Some of these judges are also pressured to take oath under the newly proclaimed order.

Hundreds of lawyers engaging in public demonstrations on November 5 were also detained. Around 800 lawyers were arrested in Lahore alone—340 of whom have been sent to jail on judicial remand until November 10. Meanwhile, about 150 lawyers in Karachi were also sent to jail. These lawyers have been arrested supposedly for multiple offences, including obstruction of public servant in discharge of functions, intentional murder, and terrorism.

A leading lawyer, U.N. special rapporteur, and chairperson of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Asma Jahangir, under house arrest at her Lahore residence since November 3, said that it is ironic that the President had to clamp down on the press and the judiciary to curb terrorism. “Those he has arrested are progressive, secular-minded people while the terrorists are offered negotiations and ceasefires,” said Jahangir.

Media Crackdown

Media was also not excluded from the crackdown. Immediately after the President’s declaration, the government took all private electronic news channels off the air, and new terms were dictated to restrict free access to information. To silence the media, the authorities threatened to impose punishment of up to three years imprisonment for criticising the military.

As a sign of protest, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUG), on November 5, issued a strongly worded statement against what it called the “worst kind of repression against media since 1978.” The union claimed that the police have detained about 16 journalists, raided printing presses and bureau offices, and threatened journalists and cameramen.

There was also an electronic media news blackout within the country. Cable operators were only allowed to broadcast music, movies, sports, and cartoon programmes. “Anything other than news,” said PFUJ secretary general Mazhar Abbas.

On November 20, more than 180 journalists were arrested as they protested against the government.

“It is time for the Musharraf government to back away from its attempts to control the media,” said Joel Simon, executive director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “Jailing journalists is exactly the wrong tactic at a time when the country needs more, not less, media coverage of the events unfolding in Pakistan. It looks like our concerns about the mass arrests of journalists have unfortunately come to pass,” Simon said.

According to Abbas, “It seems like the government has declared a war of terror against media. The people arrested today were taking part in our nationwide call for demonstrations against Musharraf's assault on the media. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists is calling for mass demonstrations if these journalists are not released.”

Civil society calls for action

The international solidarity network Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), along with other civil society organisations, is now calling for the following actions:
- the proclamation of emergency be immediately revoked and the Constitution reinstated with all the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution;
- free and fair elections be held and complete transition to democracy and civilian rule be ensured without further violence and delays;
- curbs on electronic and print media be withdrawn and the citizens be allowed free access to information;
- charges against the human rights activists be dropped and their security and protection be ensured in future;
- lawyers be released and all alleged charges against them dropped, also their security be guaranteed.

Sources:
“Mass arrest of journalists during protests in Karachi, several beaten, injured” from International Freedom of Expression eXchange, posted on November 20, 2007, <http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/87807/>.
“PAKISTAN: Hard on Civil Society, Soft on Extremists” from Inter Press Service, posted on November 5, 2007, <http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39930>.
“UPDATE: Pakistan: Protest against the state of emergency in Pakistan and brutal attacks on civil society” from Women Living Under Muslim Laws, posted on November 12, 2007, <http://www.wluml.org/english/actionsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[156]=i-156-558450>.