The following letter from US Senators Paul Wellstone, Edward Kennedy and Robert Torricelli to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expresses concern about recent attacks on NGOs and arrests of journalists in Pakistan.
May 18, 1999
His Excellency Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Office of the Prime Minister
Islamabad, Pakistan
Dear Prime Minister Sharif:
We are deeply concerned about recent steps taken by the Pakistan government that undermine freedom of expression and free association in Pakistan, including threats against journalists and non-governmental organizations. These actions may create obstacles to improvement in relations between our two countries.
We are concerned by reports that at least six journalists, critical of the government, have been subjected to harassment and arrests. Two of them, Hassain Haqqani and Najam Sethi, are in custody and in the case of Najam Sethi, a writ of habeas corpus has been turned down by the Punjab High Court sitting in Lahore.
We believe that the arbitrary arrest of these journalists raise serious questions about your government's commitments to due process and internationally-recognized human rights. Najam Sethi was beaten
and abducted by armed gunmen in Lahore, taken without a warrant, and apparently will be charged with unspecified "anti-state" activities. His newspaper's web site has been closed, and police and intelligence officers stationed at the facility that produces The Friday Times.
In addition, non-governmental organizations have been under pressure, and broad restrictions issued recently have led to the banning of 1,940 non-governmental organizations, the seizing of these
organizations' assets and the freezing of their bank accounts. We hope that you agree that a thriving civil society is integral to a democracy, and that lawyers, journalists, and non-governmental
organizations should be allowed to function freely and peacefully.
We appreciate your attention to these matters and look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Senator Paul Wellstone
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senator Robert Torricelli
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