Pakistani Balochistan – Medical Treatement denied to Baloch Political Leader

Quite indicative of the abhorrent violations of Human Rights, and of the extraordinary breach of valid local legislation in Pakistan, is the case of the incarceration of Mr. Akhtar Mengal, President of the Baloch National Party. Former Chief Minister of the Pakistani province of Balochistan, Akhtar Mengal has long been the target of Islamic extremists and fanatics because he does not contribute to their overwhelming grip over the administration, the education, the business and the military of Pakistan.

Akhtar Mengal was a lifelong Baloch nationalist, and fought hard for the case of his divided and discriminated nation, the Balochs, who have been partitioned among Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mr. Akhtar Mengal’s fight for Democracy, Nationalism, Cultural and National Identity, and Respect for Human Rights does not fit the interests of the paranoid radicalization and bogus-islamization of the country, which consists in the top priority of the criminal president Musharraf of Pakistan, who is a mere puppet of the Islamists. Because of this, the US-friendly tyrant incarcerated Akhtar Mengal on unproven charges of …. Terrorism.

Akhtar Mengal: Scheduled to Die in Jail

Arrested in September 2006, Mr. Akhtar Mengal is scheduled to die in jail, as the merciless extremist Islamist tyrant Musharraf denies him every access to elementary medical treatment. Following his extrajudicial arrest for accusation that have never been spelt out ever since, few people have been allowed to briefly meet him in jail. Son to a famous Baloch statesman, Sardar Ataullah Mengal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataullah_Mengal), Akhtar Mengal was one of the ….. 700 people arrested during a peaceful demonstration initiated for demands other than Musharraf’s ulcerous Islamist agenda.

As of today, not everything is lost in Pakistan, the frontier country in the fight against the Islamist radicalization; with due reaction from all parts of the world, and with adequate concern for the future of the globe, much can still be achieved. Pakistani embassies allover the world should be flooded by protestation mails. Petitions must be signed, and pressure must be exercised at all levels.

To shed further light on this case, we publish here two texts, namely a plea, which was recently written by the Baloch Pakistani Senator Sanaullah Baloch (http://www.unpo.org/article.php?id=7675), and a Petition to immediately release Baloch Leader Sardar Akhter Mengal and hundreds of other Baloch political activists detained.

Unlawful Detention BNP Leader

By Senator Sanaullah Baloch

I am writing this appeal on behalf of people of Balochistan to bring in to your kind attention the very urgent matter regarding constant life threats to Balochistan National Party's president Mr. Akhtar Mengal, who is unlawfully detained since November 2006 without any fair and free trial.

Mr. Mengal, who has been in the Karachi Central Prison since December 2006, is suffering from a cardiac problem but despite court orders, Sardar Mengal was being denied medical treatment outside the jail.

In prison torture, poisoning and elimination of political dissidents and particularly the ethnic and religious minority people is order of the day in Pakistan.

Fearing for his son's life, veteran Baloch nationalist Sardar Mengal alleged that Hasan Gichki, a close relative of Akhter Mengal had been killed by the government in the same prison a few years ago. "We cannot rely on the jail's doctor and the authorities are not taking him to a hospital."

Pakistan's Constitution guarantees that "All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law." The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination also emphasizes "the right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering justice". However, the Baloch have not been treated according to national and international laws. Constitutional guarantees and the courts have failed to protect their fundamental rights.

Akhtar Mengal along with 500 BNP activists was arrested in Nov 2006, the mass arrests was aimed at stop BNP from peaceful protest against the military operation, widespread arrests of activists and 'disappearance'.

Akhtar Mengal, as a senior leader of a political party, is entitled to all basic rights and facilities. The large number of political activists in Balochistan, who have been detained and denied legal and prison rights, are entitled to just treatment in accordance with UN conventions.

We appeal to the UNPO to press upon the Government of Pakistan to stop its discriminatory approach towards ethnic Baloch population and immediately release all Baloch political prisoners including Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

Yours Sincerely,

Senator Sanaullah Baloch

Balochistan National Party

Petition - Release Baloch Leader Sardar Akhter Mengal

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/release-of-baloch-leader.html

Mr. Sardar Akhtar Mengal is former chief minister of Balochistan province and he is head of Balochistan Nationalist Party. Akhtar Mengal has been detained and kept in an isolated cell in a prison in Karachi since November 2006, and denied justice.

Mr. Mengal's Illegal detention and unnecessary delays in his case have exposed the inequality and courts' inability to act without being influenced by the executive in Pakistan.

Mr. Mengal has not been arrested on charges of corruption, nor misuse of power. He is not an industrialist, not a bank defaulter and isn't involved in any land scam, like many pro-establishment politicians of Pakistan.

Article 25 of the Pakistan's Constitution says: "All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law…" According to Article 5 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: "States parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights: (a) The right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering justice…"

However, in the last five years the Baloch people have not been treated according to national and international laws. Neither constitutional guarantees nor any court of law has protected their fundamental rights.

Akhtar Mengal is not being tried in an open court and on the wishes of the executive he is produced in the court in a humiliating manner.

Mr Mengal and 500 other Balochistan National Party activists were arrested in November 2006 before President Musharraf's visit to Balochistan to prevent the BNP from holding a peaceful long march against the military operation, illegal arrests and forced disappearances.

We appeal through this petition that rulers in Pakistan must abide by the domestic and international covenants, respect the rights of national minorities and stop intimidating and dishonouring the Baloch and their political representatives. There should be open and fair trial, which is also in the interest of the government.

The Baloch should not be discriminated, they are part of the federation and have equal rights according to the Constitution.

We appeal to the Government of Pakistan to immediately release Baloch Leader Sardar Akhter Mengal and hundreds of other Baloch political activists detained since many years.

Sign the petition here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/release-of-baloch-leader.html