DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243889
TITLE=PAKISTAN JUSTICE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SPECIAL MILITARY COURTS IN KARACHI HAVE HANDED DOWN
ANOTHER DEATH SENTENCE -- AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN
ON THE VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN'S PORT CITY. BUT AS V-O-A'S SCOTT
ANGER REPORTS FROM THE CAPITAL ISLAMABAD, OPINIONS ARE MIXED
ABOUT WHETHER THOSE CONVICTED IN THE SPECIAL COURTS ARE GETTING A
FAIR TRIAL.
TEXT: DAILY SHOOTINGS IN PAKISTAN'S LARGEST CITY AND PROVINCIAL
CAPITAL, KARACHI, HAVE KILLED HUNDREDS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF, FRUSTRATED BY THE RELENTLESS
VIOLENCE, DISMISSED THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND ESTABLISHED
FEDERAL RULE IN NOVEMBER. HE SUSPENDED CIVIL RIGHTS AND SET UP
MILITARY COURTS TO HAND OUT QUICK JUSTICE. MR. SHARIF HAS BLAMED
THE ETHNIC M-Q-M PARTY FOR THE VIOLENCE.
THE M-Q-M PARTY DENIES THE CHARGES AND SAYS THE COURTS HAVE BEEN
ESTABLISHED TO ELIMINATE THEIR PARTY.
THE COURTS HAVE WASTED NO TIME IN HANDING DOWN DEATH SENTENCES.
TWO MEN HAVE BEEN HANGED FOR THEIR CRIMES WITHIN THE PAST WEEK --
AND A THIRD MAN, AN M-Q-M PARTY ACTIVIST, WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH
WEDNESDAY. APPEALS FOR THOSE CONVICTED ARE HEARD BY ANOTHER
MILITARY COURT, WHICH THEN MUST ISSUE A VERDICT IN THREE DAYS.
GROUPS ARE DIVIDED OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE COURTS ARE FAIR.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN PAKISTAN DO NOT FEEL JUSTICE IS BEING
CARRIED OUT. ASMA JEHANGIR, CHAIRPERSON OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN, FEELS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE MILITARY
COURTS IS NOT TO DISPENSE JUSTICE BUT TO SECURE EARLY
CONVICTIONS.
///JEHANGIR ACT///
WHEN YOU HAVE THE OBJECTIVE OF EARLY CONVICTIONS, THEN
IT IS REALLY THE ATTITUDE AND ORIENTATION OF THAT COURT
TO PUNISH PEOPLE. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HANG, THE MORE
PEOPLE YOU INTIMIDATE FROM DOING THINGS -- BUT IT HAS
NEVER WORKED.
///END ACT///
BUT YOUSAF JAMEEL, WHO WORKS AS A LIAISON BETWEEN ORDINARY
CITIZENS IN KARACHI AND THE POLICE, SAYS THE COURTS ARE WORKING.
HE SAYS THE CRIME RATE IS LOWER IN KARACHI AND WITNESSES TO
CRIMES ARE NOW COMING FORWARD TO HELP MAKE CONVICTIONS.
///JAMEEL ACT///
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER THE COURTS ARE DOING,
PROPER WITNESSES HAVE COME FORWARD. WITNESSES WERE
SCARED TO GO INTO OPEN COURTS BECAUSE OF HARASSMENT,
DELAY OF JUSTICE -- OUR CONVICTION RATE USED TO BE LESS
THAN ONE PERCENT (BEFORE THE MILITARY COURTS).
///END ACT///
THE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE VIOLENCE ARE STILL UNDER DEBATE.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY DIALOG BETWEEN THOSE BATTLING TO CONTROL
THE CITY IS NECESSARY -- IN ADDITION TO CHANGING WHAT THEY
CONSIDER BAD GOVERNING OF THE PROVINCE.
SOME THINK THE MILITARY COURTS WILL BE A SHORT-TERM MEASURE.
MR. JAMEEL SAYS HE THINKS REFORM IS ON THE WAY.
///JAMEEL ACT 2///
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT BRINGING
IN MAJOR POLICE REFORMS, JUDICIAL REFORMS AND JAIL
REFORMS. ALL THREE NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN AND IF THEY
MANAGE TO DO THAT, WE CAN SEE A BRIGHT FUTURE IN TWO TO
THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
///END ACT///
THE LATEST THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE MILITARY COURTS WILL
CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN KARACHI UNTIL THE VIOLENCE IS CURBED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SA/JO
07-Jan-99 10:42 AM EST (1542 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
