Posted on July 14, 2011 by beenasarwar
The violence in Karachi today has overshadowed what happened in Mumbai yesterday. More on that later. Meanwhile, here’s a comment I posted to my facebook page (relevant to Karachi situation too?): Salam Mumbai. Hope the damage is contained. And – I understand the addiction to ‘breaking’ news, but wish we could do it differently. If there was no live TV, would terrorists put up such shows? …Death toll as reported this morning is 21. Even one is too much. I keep thinking of Sahir Ludhianvi’s universally relevant and humanitarian poem, ‘khoon apna ho ya paraya ho, Nasle aadam ka khoon hai aakhir…’ Here’s a response from Rakesh Sharma, a prominent documentary filmmaker from Mumbai: Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: India, karachi, mumbai, Pakistan, Rakesh Sharma, violence | 2 Comments »
Posted on July 14, 2011 by beenasarwar
Press Release: Indian and Pakistan Citizens Condemn Serial Blasts in Mumbai
We the citizens of India and Pakistan strongly condemn the inhuman and dastardly serial blasts in Mumbai on 13th July 2011 in which 21 innocent people were killed and over 140 injured. We offer our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and pray for quick and complete recovery of all those injured.
It is clear that these blasts are a well orchestrated heinous conspiracy to derail the resumption of the dialogue and peace process between India and Pakistan that was stalled following the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008. Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: blasts, dialogue, India, mumbai, Pakistan, terror | 6 Comments »
Posted on June 26, 2011 by beenasarwar
A rare family meeting at Hatundi, 2007: Dr Chishty with daughter Amna, her children and his nephew's children.
June 23, 2011
To,
Honorable Sh. Shivraj Patil
Governor of Rajasthan
Raj Bhawan, Civil Lines,
Jaipur, India
Subject: Case of Pakistani Prisoner Dr. Syed Mohammed Khaleel Chishty
This is regarding the mercy petition of my father Dr. Chishty who is presently in Ajmer prison hospital. Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India, Uncategorized | Tagged: amna chishty, Dr Chishty, governor rajasthan, India, Pakistan, prisoners | 1 Comment »
Posted on June 24, 2011 by beenasarwar
There is an outpouring of gratitude in India for the role played by Pakistanis, led by Ansar Burney, in getting freed Indian sailors from Somali pirates. But from the Governor Rajasthan, on whose desk the mercy petition for Dr Khaleel Chishty sits waiting for his signature, there is deafening silence. Fed up of the constant wait and wanting to dispel any ideas that the Governors power’s were limited if there is an appeal in the high court, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) sent the following letter. Which is also apparently sitting on his desk. Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: ansar burney, Dr Chishty, India, indian sailors, Kavita Srivastava, pakistan prisoners, PUCL, sailors freed, somali pirates | 2 Comments »
Posted on June 23, 2011 by beenasarwar
Unable to walk on his own anymore, Dr Chishty is carried to court in Ajmer. Photo: Times of India
DR CHISHTY CASE UPDATE
Beena Sarwar
June 21: The expected release of an elderly Pakistani academic imprisoned in India for nearly two decades was delayed as the Governor of Rajasthan raised further queries instead of signing the mercy petition recommended to him by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan – flouting the constitutional provision that requires the Governor to act upon the advice of the Chief Minister, making his signature a mere formality. Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: ajmer, aman ki asha, Dr Chishty, humanitarian grounds, India, justice, markandey katju, pakistan prisoners, rajasthan | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 30, 2011 by beenasarwar
“’Pro-jihadi, anti-India’ policy #fail” – my column Personal Political published in Hardnews, India, and in The News on Sunday. Many in Pakistan have been saying this for a long time, and been attacked and branded as traitors, Indian agents and kafirs for going against ‘the establishment’. Now, for the first time, this argument is in the public domain, being discussed on live television. Recently, Asma Jahangir Chairperson Emeritus of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, lashed out at the Pakistan army’s self serving policies and demanded that they stay out of politics – in words that one would never have heard on television before. Her view reinforces what I wrote a few days earlier, below (predictably, efforts are afoot to portray her as ‘anti-national, pro-Hindu, pro-India’. These efforts too, will #fail). Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: Afghanistan, Asma Jahangir, HRCP, Human rights, India, jihadi, Pakistan, Pakistan army, pakistan foreign policy, Supreme Court Bar Association Pakistan | 1 Comment »
Posted on April 21, 2011 by beenasarwar
Ajmer, Jan 2011: Unable to walk, Dr Chishty is carried to the courtroom. Photo: TOI
In humanity’s name: Aman ki Asha has been campaigning for clemency towards cross-border prisoners – young boys who stray across by mistake or in search of ‘Bollywood’, fishermen who cross the maritime border, families who have committed minor transgressions, long-term prisoners incarcerated for years on either side, until their story is taken up by human rights activists and media…. See articles compiled at the Aman ki Asha website at the link ‘In humanity’s name‘. Four articles, including the one below, published today, available at this link.
A campaign is building up in India for the release of an elderly retired Pakistani professor detained for over 19 years
By Beena Sarwar Continue reading →
Filed under: Human rights, Pakistan-India | Tagged: adml ramdas, Chidambaram, Dr Chishty, India, Jatin Desai, Kavita Srivastava, Kuldip Nayar, Mahesh Bhat, news 24, Pakistan, prisoners | 2 Comments »
Posted on April 17, 2011 by beenasarwar
Below, a heartening and hopeful account of Dr Chishty’s situation via email from Kavita Srivastava of People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), India, after meeting him at Ajmer prison hospital, addressed to Dr Chishty’s daughters and others involved in trying to provide him relief. The petition seeking pardon for Dr Chishty under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution has been sent to the President of India as well as the Governor of Rajasthan, signed by Mahesh Bhat, Kuldeep Nayyar, Jatin Desai, Kavita Srivastava and Adml. Ramu Ramdas. It is encouraging that the Indian media is taking up the case with greater vigour. Below, Kavita’s email, reproduced with permission. Continue reading →
Filed under: Human rights, Pakistan-India | Tagged: ajmer, Dr Chishtym Kavita Srivastava, India pakistan prisoners, Jatin Desai, Kuldeep Nayyar, Mahesh Bhat, PUCL, ramu ramdas | 3 Comments »
Posted on April 15, 2011 by beenasarwar
Received an email this morning from Amna Chishty in Canada, copied to various people working to secure the release of her father, the aged Pakistani professor Dr Khalil Chishty, a prisoner in India for over 19 years, currently in Ajmer Prison hospital (report in The Hindu April 15, editorial in The News on April 13). She expresses her family’s gratitude for the continued efforts to help Dr Chishty and bring his case to the forefront and stresses the following points that need to be highlighted in the media:
Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: aman ki asha, Dr Chishty, Jatin Desai, Kavita Srivastava, Mahesh Bhatt, pakistani prisoner indian jail, PUCL | 6 Comments »
Posted on April 11, 2011 by beenasarwar
On April 4, 2011 Amna Chishty, daughter of retired Pakistani professor Dr Khaleel Chishty currently a prisoner in Ajmer prison hospital appealed to Aman ki Asha to secure her father’s release, inspired by the Indian Supreme Court’s appeal for the release of Indian prisoner Gopal Dass in Pakistan, whom the Pakistan government subsequently released. Since then, events have moved fast in India, with various high-powered individuals working behind the scenes to help Dr Chishty. Below, an appeal from distinguished Indian citizens to their president.
Continue reading →
Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: admiral ramdas, Dr Chishty, India, Indian supreme court release, Jatin Desai, Kavita Srivastava, Kuldip Nayar, Mahesh Bhatt, Pakistan, prisoner, prisoner release | 8 Comments »
Journeys to democracy 