Protest in Harvard University for restoration of the Judiciary

There are protests in Boston, New York and Washington this weekend and the following is the press release from the Boston area. Reports from other cities will follow soon. The pictures are in the file attachments.

March 15, 2007

For Immediate Release:

Cambridge, MA: Student Action Committee USA Chapter (SAC-USA) staged a successful protest in Harvard Yard today demanding immediate restoration of the pre-Nov 3 independent judiciary in Pakistan. The protestors condemned - in no uncertain terms- the unconstitutional acts of General (r) Musharraf which include the sacking of an independent judiciary, gagging of media and free speech, suspension of civil liberties and fundamental human rights and illegal detention of judges, lawyers and political opponents without any trial or charges. They chanted "Bring the Judges Back" and "No more Musharraf" and walked from John Harvard Statue to Harvard Square holding black flags and banners.

The protest - which is one of three organized by SAC-USA (the other two being in New York and Washington DC) - attracted a large number of students from Harvard College, Kennedy School of Government, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Massachussetts Institude of Technology, Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law, Boston University and other premier institutions of the Boston region. Joining students in their demands were doctors, lawyers - particularly the National Lawyers Guild, Massachusetts chapter-, professionals of Pakistani origin and other members of American Civil Society.

Speaking to the protestors, Aqil Sajjad, member of SAC-USA, condemned the illegal detention of the Chief Justice and his family. He said that the people of Pakistan want the judges to be restored and Pervez Musharraf to be ousted, the US and the international community should respect their wishes and stop interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs to keep the judges out. He also spoke against the continued detention of the judges with their families, including the Chief Justice whose 8-year old disabled son has been kept in confinement with him and at times denied the medication he needs. He argued that the US government should build a solid relationship with the people of Pakistan instead of supporting a very unpopular dictator.

President of Harvard Philipine Forum, Marlowe Rillera, stressed for the need for an independent judiciary. He said: "An independent judiciary assures people that court decisions will be based on the country's laws and constitution, not on orders of a dictator." In addition he said that while the situation in Pakistan did not affect him or the Philipines directly, he cared so strongly for an independent judiciary and the serious consequences of not having one that he came with his friends to protest.

After the protest, Samad Khurram, a columnist for The Harvard Crimson, said that Musharraf must respect the wishes of the people of Pakistan. He commented on the recent elections as being a heavy blow to Musharraf's rule with an overwhelming number voting against his King's party. "In addition there were a huge number of us who boycotted the elections on principle. If you add both the opposition voters and those who boycotted, the numbers exceed 80% of the country", he noted.

Aitzaz Ahsan’s call for Black Flag Week (9th-16th March)

Dear All,

Aitzaz Ahsan has given a call to observe Black Flag Week in Pakistan. Everyone is requested to show their solidarity for the restoration of the independent Judiciary in Pakistan.

Here are a couple of things you can do:

1) Record a small video of yourself wearing a black flag, black clothing or even just a black cap and post it on youtube in response to the Aitzaz's video message. In the video you should talk about why you support the restoration of the judiciary.

To respond to the video: http://www.youtube.com/video_response_upload?v=EOzwt953sTU

If you have trouble uploading the video on youtube please email the clip to blackflagweek@gmail.com


2) Take a picture of yourself, your friends and/or your family holding a black flag or wearing black clothes and send it to blackflagweek@gmail.com. If you are uncomfortable revealing your identity you can have the picture taken from your backside or cover your face before taking the picture. You can also help us by taking pictures of your friends, family members, relatives and others who may not be able to take pictures


3) Take part in the events that observe the Black Flag Day in your cities. You can get information about the major events at: http://blackflagweek.blogspot.com/

If your event is not shown on this blog please email blackflagweek@gmail.com with details of the event and it will be updated shortly.


4) Attached is a picture that you should use as your facebook, orkut and myspace picture for till Sunday, March 16, 2008.


5) You can use many variations of a black flag. Suggestions include black armbands, headbands, stickers, caps, headscarfs, etc.


6) Please encourage your friends, family, teachers and everyone else you know to participate in the Black Flag Week. The biggest strength to the campaign would be pictures and videos.


7) Please forward this email to as many people as you know to make this campaign a success. You can also inform them of this campaign through facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=22589890270

In solidarity,
Samad

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PRESS RELEASE: Thursday, 28th March, 2008.

Aitzaz Gives Call for LAWYERS' Black Flag Week:

Lahore:

In a statement issued here from his residence, where he is detained, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, President Supreme Court Bar Association, said that a Long March scheduled for March 09 has been postponed to give Parliament time to restore the deposed judges. It has not been cancelled. The lawyers, he said, appreciated the concern of the Parliamentarians and the leadership of the political parties to permit Parliament to meet and take steps for the restoration of the judges in the first instance.

Aitzaz, however, said that two of the most unfortunate days in our history fell in the year 2007. On March 9, none other than the Chief Justice of Pakistan was arrested. On December 27 a much greater and far more enormous tragedy struck. The most important leader of the country Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was martyred. The nation continues to mourn her. Lawyers have decided to commemorate both days with sorrow.

Aitzaz said that presently March 9th to 16th would be commemorated as the BLACK FLAG WEEK in and outside Pakistan. Those opposing Musharraf and seeking the restoration of the deposed judges will fly "Black Flags" through out the week as per the following recommended programme:

· On Sunday 9th March Provincial Bar Councils to hold conventions of Representative Lawyers presided over by a deposed judge at the Provincial Headquarters and hoist black flags.

· On the Monday 10th and Thursday 13th all Bar Associations will hoist Black Flags at 10.00 a.m. and after speeches by the President and other members will take out rallies. There will also be a Complete Strike on these two days. Arrangements are being made to relay the address of the SCBA President and the CJP on these two days at one and the same time to all the Bar Associations of Pakistan.

· Rallying lawyers will only carry black flags and black banners. Photographs of the CJP, CJs of Sindh and NWFP and lawyers who were detained may also be carried.

· On other days of the week, the flag hoisting ceremony will take place every day and the General Body will meet. Speakers will address the House.

· Special resolutions will be passed, every day, to appreciate the courage of the three school-going children of the Chief Justice of Pakistan who have been in complete detention since November 3 and have not complained.

· Lawyers will distribute black flags, arm bands, and head bands during the rallies and at other times among the public. Although it will remain a lawyers' protest, students, civil society and party cadres may join with party as well as black flags.

· All students, particularly of law, may volunteer to help the Bar Associations.

· From March 3 onwards, Press briefings will be given daily by all office bearers of all Bar Associations stating the progress of the preparations for the lawyers' BLACK FLAG WEEK in their district and area.

· In this regard Bar Office-bearers will contact students, businessmen, traders, professional and women organizations, chambers, trade unions for logistical assistance and support.

Aitzaz said that the Lawyers' Long March has been postponed but not cancelled. A date for it would be announced, if necessary, after the Parliament has convened. The Black Flag Week will be a soft preparatory step to the Long March and will re-energize lawyers and the Lawyers' Movement.


Aitzaz Ahsan
President, Supreme Court Bar Association

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Samad Khurram
Harvard College
394 Winthrop House Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138
E-Mail: skhurram@fas.harvard.edu
Cell(US): +1-(617)960-7289
Cell(PK): +92-300-5599085

An Activist Fights Back

(An unusually interesting series of emails is being exchanged on the SAC's mailing list. In a fairly attacking mail, one Ms. S raised a series of objections against the continuing struggle of lawyers, students, civil society activists, media and the judiciary, and advocated the current government's case.

In the message underneath, one Mr. Wasion Ali Khan fights back in brutally compelling prose, touching upon some of the most crucial issues facing Pakistan today, including the Waziristan War.)

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As explained by Miss S, the Human Rights commission, lawyers and other people of THEIR category DID NOT raised hue cry for the support of the military personnel being slaughtered in Waziristan and no one is listening to their plight (media that is).

Ms. S., May I ask that was it our fault in the first place to send those soldiers to fight fellow Pakistanis? Was it our fault that a mad dictator (who has usurped all powers and is trying to act llike Amir-Ul-Momineen) has corrupted a professional department by engaging it in civil matters and using force to solve all matters? Was it a popular vote by us, common Pakistanis, common man, that forced Mr. Musharraf to send the sons of Pakistan to kill other sons and families of Pakistan in Waziristan?

Are you willing to accuse and blame media and judiciary for not giving adequate COVERAGE to the DEATHS of our sons instead of going into the root of all problems, i.e. Mr. Musharraf??

Are you deft and blind to all the reality around you? Did you miss the carnage of 12th May as Mr. Kamil pointed out so clearly in his reply? Did you miss the judicial crisis Mr. Musharraf caused? Did you miss the reaction of judicial community throughout the world that was in favor (and still is) of deposed Chief Justice? Have you not realized that economic crisis our country is in? Did you miss to notice the spoon-feeded facts of government are blindfold to hide reality? Did you miss noticing the privatization fiasco? Did you miss the warm welcome that Benazir received with a bang on returning to Pakistan? Did you miss the fiasco the government created regarding the manner of her death? Did you miss Musharraf breaking his promise? Did you miss members of Q League saying that Lal Masjid crisis were settled but Musharraf ordered the assult?

Did you miss growing up and being mature?

Red Mosque Terrorists? How dare you. Whether they were trouble-makers, whether they were morons or whether they puppets or pawns in the great political game of Pakistan, they were fellow Pakistanis and were helped by Musharraf himself to be what they were and seeing the right time he disposed them off. Why aren't you crying over media on this, since they fully covered the whole crisis? Why are you showing biased opinions with no clear signs of understanding of politics?

Do you think that thousands of Lawyers that are protesting, boycotting the courts and are currently robbing themselves off their livelihood, are filthy rich rascals? You think they have enough to eat and leave behind for the sons and grand sons to live a life of luxury? You think that judges are opportunists and highly corrupt? Well name me any department that is NOT corrupt since Musharraf came to power? If judges were so corrupt as you indicate, are they idiots as well for missing a chance to get more power by taking oats under PCO? Judges did that 8 years ago and benefitted, you think they would miss a chance like that? You think judges who took oaths under PCO have no chance for corruption at a greater scale? Do you know that since current judges are not being accepted as legal by the lawyers community and since there is no law or legal guidance for such unique matters, the judges are simply giving verdicts of their own choice without the fear of any repercussion (they have full protection from Musharraf) and not even charging hefty sums as verdict fee from the accused but are also receiving financial and administrative benefits from the government for solving cases (irrespective of how they are being solved)?

Are you blind to notice all this? Did you actually read what you wrote in your email before

sending it?

I would advice you to get yourself educated in matters related to Pakistan before entering the arena of Conspiracy Theories. It would benefit you greatly and those around you and most of all, it will be a service to your nation. Think carefully.

In Solidarity

Wasio Ali Khan Abbasi

The Beginning

This blog has been created by a group of students in response to the Martial Law that has been imposed in Pakistan. It is intended to provide an outlet for people to express their views, being one of their fundamental human rights (which no longer exist under Martial Law). If you are someone living abroad, we would like to implore you to understand that it is NOT a "state of emergency" as the foreign press has been portraying it, but real and actual martial law in the truest sense of the word. We are at the most crucial crossroads in the history of this country, with inaction and destruction on one side and a concerted struggle to rescue the country on the other. We have to realize that behind the multitude of crises that this country is beset with, is a General who will go to any lengths to maintain his stranglehold on power. Our Head of State has unconstitutionally, illegally deprived every Pakistani of every single one of his fundamental rights. We are witnessing the wanton, unashamed unleashing of security and armed forces on all conscious members of civil society. We are being denied access to information, media and are not allowed to criticize ANYTHING the government does. The situation has reached a state where we cannot remain quiet and docile any longer. The country stands at the brink of destruction and we must act. And we are and will.

This is not an ordinary blog or a personal rant of a frustrated inidividual. This is a small part of the resistance efforts that will herald the dawn of a new era, wherein the people of Pakistan will have awoken from their decades long slumber with a roar to challenge this martial law, until we see the end of this government and the holding of free and fair elections. We are now going to follow in the footsteps of our forefathers from Ayubs era, to fight the just fight, whether it be at the risk of personal injury, torture, unending oppression or anything else they can do to us under the Martial Law.

If you want to contribute, write, say ANYthing at all about the situation, send it to theemergencytimes@gmail.com. We will be working day and night to get your views across. We are circulating this blog in pamphlet form across Pakistani universities, schools and colleges. We will NOT be silenced.