PAKISTAN: Kindly initiate the inquiry against killing of a human rights defender

Dear Mr. Asif Ali Zardari,

PAKISTAN: Kindly initiate the inquiry against killing of a human rights defender, working on fishermen rights, by the land grabbers

Name of victim(s):
Mr. Imam Din S/O Haji Ali Nawaz; aged around 36 years,
Mr. Muhammad Hashim S/O Abdul Hameed; aged 17 years,
Mr. Ghulam Abbas S/O Ali Khan; aged 20 years,
Mr. Ali Muhammad S/O Muhammad Suleman; aged 48 years
(All the victims are residents of Bangri Amed Shah Waali, Wapda Colony, P.O. Tehsil Piplan, District Mianwali Punjab, Pakistan.)

Names of alleged perpetrators:
Mr. Amir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Nadir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Yasir Khan S/O Haji Shafaullah Khan,
Mr. Ahsan Sardar, Mr. Bahawal,
Mr. Muhammad Riaz,
Mr. Jamal Din,
Mr. Muhammad Nawaz,
Mr. Muhammad Hussain
(All are residents of Chashma Village, Dsitt Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.)

Date of incident: 4th December 2011.

Place of incident: Malikhel Village, Kundiyan, District Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the murder of a fisher folk activist and human right defender by the land grabbers and the displacement of indigenous fishermen community from their ancestors’ land.

According to the information I received Imam Din‘s family is one of the other families who had to leave their lands to secure their livelihood. In 1972, they migrated from district Sanghar, Sindh to Kudiyan, Punjab and started working with a contractor named Haji Shafaullah Khan Niazi to catch fish on Chashma to earn their bread and butter.

It is known that Imam Din was a kind and brave man having a good reputation amongst the villagers, one who always stood against the unlawful decisions of the contractor. He had a great affiliation with Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum. On raising his voice against those malpractices, the contractor, his nephew and mobsters started their bitter hostility towards him. They eventually expelled Imam Din from the village along with his entire family.

Imam Din forced to migrate and started living in Paharpur District D. I. Khan near Chashma Barrage. He bought 32 acres of land near his living place and started farming to feed his family. Though he was apart from them his association with the poor fishermen never weakened, he continued to support them. The culprits started harassing Imam Din to leave his piece of land, which he bought and threatening him in an effort to hinder his actions against their unlawful practices, but failed.

Then, on December 4, 2011 a group of thirty armed men broke into Imam Din’s village (Malikhel) and started firing for almost an hour. Ultimately the contractor Haji Shafaullah Khan Niazi, his three sons Amir Khan Niazi, Nadir Khan Niazi, Yasir Khan Niazi, his nephew Kaleemullah along with the armed men attacked Imam Din and his family. They targeted Imam Din and three of his family members, Muhammad Hashim S/O Abdul Hameed, Ghulam Abbas S/O Ali Khan & Ali Muhammad S/O Muhammad Suleman. They killed Imam Din and after confirmation of his death, they fired into the air in jubilation and told everyone that the main obstacle was taken care off. Imam Din’s death was an example for others so that no one would raise their voice against their brutality.

I therefore, urge you to initiate an inquiry into the killing of a human right defender and a fisher folk activist. I urge you to arrest the perpetrators and prosecute the local police for their negligence in taking prompt action against the powerful people. The deceased’s family should be compensated and provided by life and livelihood security. The Contract system should be eradicated from other part of the country as well in order to impede such injustice with fishing community and to ensure their sustainable livelihood. The displaced indigenous fishermen must be rehabilitated to their original places with the provision of all basic facilities of their livelihood.

Yours sincerely,

William Nicholas Gomes

William’s Desk

http://www.williamgomes.org