DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43298
TITLE=PAK / ANTI-TERRORISM LAW
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN HAS ENACTED AN ANTI-TERRORIST LAW TO COMBAT AN
INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AND CRIME. BUT THE LAW IS UNDER FIRE FROM
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES BECAUSE IT PLACES
RESTRICTIONS ON STREET PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS -- WHICH ARE
CONSIDERED ACTS OF TERRORISM UNDER THE LAW. FROM ISLAMABAD,
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER REPORTS.
TEXT: THE NEW ANTI-TERRORIST LAW IS DESIGNED TO SPEED UP THE
PROSECUTION OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR TERRORIST ACTS AND SECTARIAN
VIOLENCE. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE EXISTING JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAS
NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCOURAGE THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW, A PERSON COULD
FACE UP TO SEVEN-YEARS IN JAIL FOR CREATING WHAT IS CALLED A
CIVIL COMMOTION. AS THE DEFINITION IS WRITTEN, A CIVIL COMMOTION
COULD RANGE FROM MARKING A WALL WITH GRAFFITI, LAUNCHING A STRIKE
OR PROTEST -- OR EVEN INTENDING TO CREATE A DISTURBANCE.
CRITICS OF THE LAW, SUCH AS OPPOSITION SENATOR AITZAZ AHSAN,
QUESTION WHETHER THESE ACTS FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF TERRORISM.
/// AHSAN ACT ///
IT'S QUITE AMAZING THAT THIS KIND OF A LAW COULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE ANTI-TERRORISM ACT. THESE ACTIONS OF
PUBLISHING HANDBILLS OR WALL-CHALKING OR GOING ON STRIKE
FOR ECONOMIC GAINS -- THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
TERRORISM.
/// END ACT ///
MR. AHSAN SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TRUE INTENT OF THE LAW IS TO
SUPPRESS ALL EXPRESSIONS OF OPPOSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF.
/// AHSAN ACT TWO ///
IT BETRAYS THE REAL FACE OF THIS GOVERNMENT. THEY TALK
OF DEMOCRACY, THEY COME TO THE PARLIAMENT TALKING OF
DEMOCRACY BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING DOCUMENTS
OF LEGISLATION THEY HAVE PRODUCED. OBVIOUSLY, THESE (THE
NEW LAW) ARE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN THE GRIP OF THE
GOVERNMENT ON THE POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE COUNTRY.
/// END ACT ///
THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW COMES AFTER THE GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS IN
CONVICTING FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND OPPOSITION LEADER BENAZIR
BHUTTO OF RECEIVING KICKBACKS. SHE HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM
HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE AND REMAINS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. MS. BHUTTO
FACES ARREST AND A JAIL SENTENCE IF SHE RETURNS TO PAKISTAN.
POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THE NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAW IS AIMED AT
SUPPRESSING ANY PROTESTS WHICH MAY OCCUR BECAUSE OF MS. BHUTTO'S
CONVICTION AND HER ELIMINATION FROM THE PAKISTANI POLITICAL
SCENE.
FOR NEARLY A YEAR, MR. SHARIF HAS PUBLICLY EXPRESSED HIS
FRUSTRATION WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM'S INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE
INCREASE IN VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN. TO FIGHT THIS, THE PRIME
MINISTER INTRODUCED SEVERAL MEASURES AIMED AT COMBATING
TERRORISM.
LAST DECEMBER, MR. SHARIF SET UP SPECIAL MILITARY COURTS TO TRY
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS WHO THE GOVERNMENT SAID WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
A HIGH MURDER RATE IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL, KARACHI.
HOWEVER, THE SPECIAL COURTS WERE STRUCK DOWN BY THE SUPREME COURT
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH CALLED THEM UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE
THEY OPERATED PARALLEL TO PAKISTAN'S EXISTING JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
SENATOR NASREEN JALEEL, OF THE M-Q-M OPPOSITION PARTY, SAYS THE
NEW LAW IS ANOTHER MOVE BY PRIME MINISTER SHARIF TO UNDERMINE THE
CURRENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
/// JALEEL ACT ///
ALL THE TERRORISM ACTS WOULD GO ON THE BACKBURNER (WOULD
BECOME IRRELEVANT) AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO
SAY THE JUDICIARY IS NOT EFFECTIVE. AND (THE ORDINANCE)
IS TO MAKE THE JUDICIARY SMALLER IN THE EYES OF THE
PUBLIC.
/// END ACT ///
THE M-Q-M PARTY, WHICH DOMINATES POLITICS IN KARACHI, HAS BEEN
THE TARGET OF MR. SHARIF'S CAMPAIGN TO STEM THE VIOLENCE IN THE
TROUBLED CITY. ONCE AN ALLY OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S RULING
PARTY, THE M-Q-M HAS BEEN BLAMED BY THE SHARIF GOVERNMENT FOR
MANY OF THE KILLINGS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN SINDH PROVINCE.
SINCE HE TOOK OVER AS PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN TWO YEARS AGO,
POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY MR. SHARIF HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR
USING LAWS TO ACQUIRE MORE POWER AND ELIMINATE OPPOSITION.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE DEMANDING THE
GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW, WHICH THEY FEAR COULD
BE USED TO STRIKE AT THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THE
GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/KL
03-May-99 1:50 PM EDT (1750 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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