DATE=11/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241985
TITLE=PAK MILITARY / REACTION (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND OPPOSITION PARTIES IN PAKISTAN
HAVE REACTED WITH ALARM TO THE GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO SET UP
MILITARY COURTS IN THE CITY OF KARACHI. PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT
FRIDAY INVOKED A CONSITUTIONAL PROVISION TO ALLOW USE OF THE ARMY
IN CURBING VIOLENCE IN KARACHI. ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS SWIFT AND HARSH JUSTICE IS
WHAT IS NEEDED TO PUT AN END TO WIDESPREAD POLITICAL AND
RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY, KARACHI.
WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, MANY
PAKISTANIS SHARE THEIR PRIME MINISTER'S CONCERN. BUT HIS LATEST
MOVE TO INTRODUCE SPECIAL MILITARY COURTS IN THE CITY -- TO HEAR
CASES INVOLVING TERRORISM AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES -- HAS BEEN
CONDEMNED BY OPPOSITION PARTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.
ASMA JEHANGIR, CHAIRPERSON OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF
PAKISTAN, SAYS IT IS BAD ENOUGH TO PIT THE ARMY AGAINST
CIVILIANS. BUT SHE SAYS MR. SHARIF IS UNDERMINING THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.
// JEHANGIR ACT //
IT IS VERY SERIOUS BECAUSE I THINK HE IS TAKING THINGS
TOO FAR NOW. THERE CAN BE A GRAVE DANGER THAT THE WHOLE
PLACE WILL ERUPT AT SOME POINT, BECAUSE JUDGEMENTS OF
MILITARY COURTS ARE NEVER ACCEPTED BY THE PEOPLE AS
COMPLETELY FAIR. AND THERE WILL BE A DEEP-SEATED
RESENTMENT OF THIS, WHICH AT SOME POINT IS GOING TO BLOW
(UP) IN THE FACE.
// END ACT //
// START OPT //
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS TERRORISTS AND CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN THE
CITY HAVE BECOME TOO POWERFUL TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE CIVILIAN
ADMINISTRATION. BUT HIS CRITICS CONTEND THAT THIS ADMISSION OF
FAILURE REFLECTS MORE ON THE ALLEDGED INCOMPETENCE OF HIS
GOVERNMENT, AND WHAT THEY SEE AS HIS DICTATORIAL TENDENCIES. ASMA
JEHANGIR (OF THE PAKISTAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION) SAYS THE
VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S SOUTHERN SINDH PROVINCE REFLECTS POORLY ON
THE GOVERNMENT.
// JEHANGIR ACT //
[IT] JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS INCAPABLE
OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THAT PROVINCE (SINDH) ITSELF. AND
SECONDLY THERE ARE STRONG APPREHENSIONS THEY ARE
TARGETTING ONE POLITICAL PARTY. AND WHEN YOU TAKE ON
CONFRONTATION OF THIS NATURE YOU CAN NEVER EXPECT LONG
LASTING PEACE IN THAT PROVINCE.
// END ACT //
// END OPT //
MR. SHARIF ACCUSES KARACHI'S LARGEST POLITICAL PARTY, THE M-Q-M,
OF BEING THE MAIN CULPRIT BEHIND VIOLENCE IN THE CITY. M-Q-M
LEADERS REJECT THE GOVERNMENT'S ALLEGATIONS OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT
IN TERRORISM. SENATOR AFTAB SHEIKH SPEAKS FOR THE M-Q-M PARTY.
// SHEIKH ACT //
THE GOVERNMENT HAS GOT ONLY ONE POINT AGENDA, AND THE
AGENDA IS TO CRUSH M-Q-M. TO SOMEHOW OR THE OTHER
ACHIEVE CONTROL OF THE PROVINCE OF SINDH. TO ALSO
ACHIEVE CONTROL OF THE METROPOLITAN CORPORATION OF
KARACHI AND HAVE THEIR OWN MAYOR.
// END ACT //
// START OPT //
WITHIN HOURS OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING
MILITARY COURTS, SECURITY FORCES IN KARACHI RAIDED AN M-Q-M
HOSTEL AND ARRESTED FIVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING TWO MEMBERS OF THE
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY.
CLOSE TO FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE, MOST BELONGING TO THE M-Q-M, HAVE
BEEN ARRESTED SINCE MR. SHARIF LAST MONTH IMPOSED DIRECT RULE ON
THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF SINDH, OF WHICH KARACHI IS THE CAPITAL.
// END OPT //
MR. SHEIKH SAYS HIS PARTY IS CHALLENGING ALL OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S MOVES IN THE COURTS. BUT HE SAYS THE PEOPLE OF
KARACHI -- IF PUSHED TOO FAR -- MAY TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN
HANDS.
// SHEIKH ACT //
THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHICH YOU CAN GO IN TREATING PEOPLE
IN [AN] UNJUST MANNER. NOW, IF YOU CONTINUE TREATING US
WITH INJUSTICE, IF YOU CONTINUE TO OPERATE AGAINST US
WITH YOUR POLICE MIGHT AND WITH THE MIGHT OF THE
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND RANGERS AND DIFFERENT
VARIETIES OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PEOPLE MIGHT
GET FED UP. PEOPLE MIGHT EVEN NOT LISTEN TO US, LISTEN
TO THEIR OWN PARTY.
// END ACT //
PREVIOUS OPERATIONS AGAINST VIOLENCE IN KARACHI HAVE FAILED TO
CONTROL THE PROBLEM. MR. SHARIF PROMISES TO BRING PEACE TO
KARACHI WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, BUT ANALYSTS SAY THAT NOTHING SHORT
OF A POLITICAL SOLUTION CAN REALLY ENSURE A LASTING PEACE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/GE
21-Nov-98 9:46 AM EST (1446 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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