On 15 November 2007, a demonstration organized in front of Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu to mark A Global Day of Action against the current assault on human rights and justice in Pakistan. Amnesty International Nepal took part in the action jointly organized by the organizations working on human rights, press freedom, law and justice which was participated by hundreds of journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders.
The program initiated by South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) Nepal and organized together by 20 organizations including Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nepal Bar Association, Amnesty International Nepal, Human Rights and Peace Society, Reporters Club of Nepal, was divided into two parts. Initially activists gathered at Shankha Park in Kathmandu before marching towards Pakistani embassy with plea-cards and banners. After reaching at the embassy and having demonstration demanding fundamental rights, press freedom and justice in Pakistan, the organizers requested officials to receive memorandum. But the officials of the embassy refused to receive it. Finally, the organizers had to put the memorandum at the gate of the embassy. The petition, addressed to General Pervez Musharraf, has demand full respect for freedom of expression in Pakistan, the release of all those arbitrarily detained under the State of Emergency, reinstatement of the independent judiciary, justice for the victims of enforced disappearance and no introduction of military tribunals for civilians.
On Thursday 15 November, Amnesty International organized demonstrations and other events in several countries including Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, Norway, Paraguay, Switzerland, Turkey, the US and UK. In London, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Irene Khan led a delegation of top lawyers, judges and journalists to present a petition at the High Commission of Pakistan.
Amnesty International is also calling for all other states to suspend immediately all forms of security cooperation, including military assistance, until Pakistan lifts the emergency measures which violate international human rights law.
Acting in his capacity as army chief of staff, on 3 November General Musharraf suspended the bulk of the Constitution, including the rights not be arbitrarily deprived of life and to be guaranteed a fair trial. He assumed powers to amend the Constitution without any parliamentary procedure and proclaimed a Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). This order prohibits any court issuing an order against the President, Prime Minister or any person exercising powers under their authority.
Under the order, existing members of the superior judiciary are effectively suspended until they take a new oath to uphold the PCO. Only five of 17 Supreme Court Justices have taken the oath. Many Supreme Court and Provincial High Court Justices are now effectively under house arrest.
Since then hundreds of lawyers, human rights activists and political workers had been arrested or arbitrarily detained across Pakistan. Independent TV and radio news channels have been prevented from broadcasting within the country. New laws restricting freedom of print and electronic media were issued, breach of which attracts three to four years imprisonment and heavy fines.