Brother of Kamal Chaugtai, daughters of Pervez Younus Khokhar and BPCA’s Naveed Aziz.
Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Act 2013 was introduced ostensibly to help bolster and empower government agencies, equipping them to crack down
on terrorism financing or as stated “strengthen the provision concerning the offences of terrorism financing and to provide more effective enforcement
measures against such offences.
The Anti- Terrorism (amendment) Act 2013 also amends the definition of terrorism under section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, by including threats
and acts of terrorism against a”foreign government or population or an international organization.
The Anti-Terrorism (Second Amendment) Act 2013, further expands the definition of terrorism under section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Its definition,
“the threat of terrorism” now includes”intimidating and terrorizing the public, social sectors, business community, security forces, Government installations,
officials and law enforcement agencies.”
The bill also provides for preventative or pre-charge detention of 90 days for persons reasonably suspected of being involved with terrorism. The
detention cannot be challenged in any court, and the detainee cannot ask “for release on bail or file a petition for habeas corpus (a hearing on whether
custody is legal or not) in any court of law.”
When these laws were introduced many Pakistani Christians believed that the existence of these laws hailed an era of better protection from the whims
of extremists, but in fact the laws have failed to curb three bomb attacks in the space of three years since the implementation of the laws.
Sadly this is not the lowest point in the fiasco that has undermined these laws. In fact the laws are now being used to suppress minority Christians
in a way no-one could have perceived, when the laws were initially promoted as a pivot in the battle against extremism.
On 19th May 2016, on hearing loud screaming and wailing outside Christian Life Ministries Church, located at Christian Town, Faisalabad, parishioners
rushed out to the aid of two men who were being savagely beaten by local policemen. Police officers were viciously using the infamous ‘lathi’ (large
wooden truncheon) to torture the two Christian men.
Police officers report that they arrested the men for undertaking wheelies on the road, while the two men allege they intervened when the police officers
ogled and harassed women entering the church for Thursday evening prayers.
When the parishioners and Pastor Kamal Chaugtai a former elected Member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) came out to offer assistance, they provided a human
shield preventing the violent onslaught of the Christian men being targeted. The kind gesture by the church unnerved the police officers, who
felt threatened. In response the policemen shot indiscriminately in the air and in doing so one of the officers was injured.
Despite the absence of weapons amongst the parishioners the policemen called in reinforcements citing a terrorist act. Pastor Kamal and many
others were arrested and placed in a prison cell where they languished all night.
Women and children arrested and detained under anti-terrorism laws.
Christian men have allegedly been subjected to inhumane torture at the hands of the local police, including having been hung by their ankles and beaten
with sticks. Police have registered First Incident Reports (FIR) against all those arrested which state they have been involved in acts of terrorism.
Most of the victims have been released after pressure from Christian leaders and NGO’s including the BPCA.
However Pervaiz Younus Khokhar has unfairly been detained.
Kamal Chughtai, said:
“I heard the commotion outside the church and came out to see what was wrong. When I tried to bring peace and settle the dispute, I found myself being arrested with other Christians who were also trying to calm down the agitated policemen.”
Christians from across Pakistan organised a protest on 23rd May 2016 calling for protecting against the tyranny of Pakistani Police officers. They
demanded a review of the use of the recently adopted anti-terrorism laws within the Terrorism Act. They had been protesting for the release of all
the innocent Christians who remain in detention. During the protest Kamal Chaughtai Ex -MPA was suffering heavy blood pressure and ear pain and has
now been admitted to hospital, please pray for this situation and pray for Kamal Chaughtai.
Our Officer Naveed Aziz attended the protest and met with victims. He said:
“These arrests were made under a clear abuse of the countries anti-terrorism laws and have caused great suffering to local Christians. The torture of innocent people has riled local Christians who desperately want justice.”
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the BPCA, said:
“The anti-terrorism laws of Pakistan were hailed as an opportunity to end extremism in the country. Yet this attack on an innocent Christian community highlights the pervading corruption of the police and other statutory authorities. Moreover I am also reminded of how an innocent Christian man Aftab Bahadur was hung for a crime he could not have possibly committed, after these anti-terrorism measures removed the moratorium on the death sentence in Pakistan
(click here). Thus far implementation of the new laws has impacted negatively on Christians. A review on anti-terrorism laws should be initiated with immediate effect so that other Christians are not persecuted in similar fashion.”
Pervez Younus comes from an extremely impoverished background and his family is extremely apprehensive about his unwarranted detention.
His family have urged local authorities to take note of his unjustified arrest and have demanded his immediate release.
Sadly Pervez is the sole bread winner for his family and his incarceration has left his family out of pocket and in dire straits.
The BPCA would like to offer help to the family and to provide the necessary legal aid to Pervez to help enact his release. To initiate legal
aid we require to raise £400 for a solicitor. We would also like to offer £200 for the family while they try to survive during the loss of income
caused by Pervez’s time behind bars. If you would like to donate (click here).
Naveed visits location where the arrests took place.
Christian Life Ministries Church
Entrance to Christian Life Ministries Church
Image of Protest
Image of Protest
Image of Protest
Image of Protest
Image of Protest
Image of Protest