URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal

25 October 2007
------------------------------------------------------
UA-306-2007: PAKISTAN: Higher police officers have impunity in the torture case of a French researcher

PAKISTAN: Torture; impunity; threats; violence against women; no rule of law
------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed from Pakistan Women's Lawyer's Association that the police in Pakistan have been involved in beating, torturing and threatening a French researcher on 20 September 2007 and have not been charged. While no action has been taken against them, the police officials threaten local journalists and a local English language teacher, not to cover the story.

CASE DETAILS:

According to the information received, Ms. Florence Nightingale, a French researcher, came to Pakistan earlier this year to write a book on Buddhism and Sufism. She went to several shrines of Muslim Sufis Saints, to gather information on "Buddhism in China and India and Sufism in Pakistan"

On 15 September 2007, Ms. Florence (49), (who changed her name to Ms Faride Boriyak during her visits to several shrines of Muslim Sufis in Turkey), arrived at Thatta district in Sindh province. She hoped to visit and collect information about a prominent Muslim Sufi Abdullah Shah Ghazi Sahabi, who came to Sindh province in the sixth century to spread the teachings of Islam. However, she was refused permission to stay in any official lodges of the government in the district, so instead stayed at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Sahabi, where late at night Thatta police asked her to vacate the shrine. The police had difficulty in communicating with Ms. Florence and so asked Mr. Wazir Querashi, an English language teacher, to translate. Ultimately, the police were unable to find a solution to the problem, and so Ms. Florence stayed at Mr. Wazir's house for one night. On September 17, she stayed at the shrine, where Ramadan rituals and dances were taking place.

Early on the morning of September 18, she found her bag was missing, containing her research work along with her passport and other traveling documents. Later that day, she went to the Thatta police station to lodge a police report of the missing papers and bag, but the police totally refused to register her complaint.

On September 20, news appeared in the Daily Dawn about the police's attitude against the French scholar. The next day, September 21, staff from the French consulate went to the Thatta police station and asked police officers to register the case, after having been made to wait almost six hours to register the case.

On following day, September 22, she went to follow up her police complaint with Mr. Wazir, but the police asked her to leave, to which she refused, until the First Information Report (FIR) had been filed. In the meantime Mr. Shoukat Ali Shahani, Superintendent of Police (SP), started using abusive language against her for informing the French Consulate. In the height of his anger, he started slapping her face. He then took out his boot and beat her continuously until other individuals including journalists and a female member of the Sindh Assembly intervened and stopped him. She was severely injured and fainted. Ms. Florence was then taken to a private hospital, as the police stopped the staff of the local government hospital from providing her with medical help.

When details of the case emerged, the media covered the incident and the locals demonstrated against the police. However, Mr. Shoukat Shah, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), one of the highest police officers of the province, came to support the police officers of the district. He threatened Mr. Wazir Querashi and Ms. Florence to stop drawing attention to the case in the media, threatening that they would be kidnapped. After some days DIG and SP handed over an amount equivalent to USD 1,000 to Ms. Florence, instructing her to leave the district otherwise.

The English language teacher, Mr. Wazir Querashi, has received numerous threats from the police. Several times, a group of individuals, dressed in plain clothes, have raided and searched his house. On October 15, he gave an application to the District Police Officer (DPO) about raids and threats from these individuals, but no action has been taken.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities showing your concern about the police brutality against the French researcher, Ms. Florence, who was beaten and tortured in the police station. Please also demand that stern action should be taken against the high police officials of the district who are involved in the incident.

To support this appeal, please click here:

------------------------------------------------------

Suggested letter:

Dear __________,

PAKISTAN: Higher police officers have impunity in the torture case of a French researcher

Name of victims:
1. Ms Florence Nightingale alias Farida Boryak, 49
2. Mr.Wazir Querashi, an English language teacher, resident of Betana Mohala, ward no.4, Thatta city, union council no.2, Sindh- Pakistan
Name of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Shoukat Ali Shahani, Superintendent of Police (SP) from Thatta police station, Thatta District, Sindh- Pakistan
2. Shoukat Ali Shah, Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG) from Thatta police station, Thatta District, Sindh-Pakistan
Date of incident: 20 September 2007
Place of incident: Thatta police station, Thatta District, Sindh-Pakistan

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the involvement of the police at Thatta police station in beating, torturing and threatening a French researcher on 20 September 2007.  No legal or disciplinary action has been taken against them, and yet the police officials continue to threaten local journalists and a local translator, not to cover the story.

Ms. Florence Nightingale, a French researcher, came to Pakistan earlier this year to write a book on Buddhism and Sufism. On September 17, she stayed at the shrine of Abdullah Shah Sahabi, where Ramadan rituals and dances were taking place. Early on the morning of September 18, she found her bag was missing, containing her research work along with her passport and other traveling documents. Later that day, she went to the Thatta police station to lodge a police report of the missing papers and bag, but the police totally refused to register her complaint.

On September 20, news appeared in the Daily Dawn about the police's attitude against the French scholar. The next day staff from the French consulate went to the Thatta police station and forced police officers to register the case, after having been made to wait almost six hours to register the case. The next day she went to follow up her police complaint with Mr. Wazir, but the police asked her to leave, to which she refused, until the First Information Report (FIR) had been filed. In the meantime Mr. Shoukat Ali Shahani, Superintendent of Police (SP), started using abusive language against her for informing the French Consulate. In the height of his anger, he started slapping her face. He then took out his boot and beat her continuously until other individuals including journalists and a female member of the Sindh Assembly intervened and stopped him. She was severely injured and fainted. Ms. Florence was then taken to a private hospital, as the police stopped the staff of the local government hospital from providing her with medical help.

When details of the case emerged, the media covered the incident and the locals demonstrated against the police. However, Mr. Shoukat Shah, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), one of the highest police officers of the province, came to support the police officers of the district. He threatened Mr. Wazir Querashi and Ms. Florence to stop drawing attention to the case in the media, threatening that they would be kidnapped. After some days DIG and SP handed over an amount equivalent to USD 1,000 to Ms. Florence, instructing her to leave the district otherwise.

The English language teacher, Mr. Wazir Querashi, has received numerous threats from the police. Several times, a group of individuals, dressed in plain clothes, have raided and searched his house. On October 15, he gave an application to the District Police Officer (DPO) about raids and threats from these individuals, but no action has been taken.

I am gravely concerned by the assault on Ms. Florence and threat to the journalist as well as Mr. Wazir Querashi by the police including the Deputy Inspector General. Therefore, I urge you to start investigation without delay. The investigation has to include all the circumstances including denial of receiving complaint, beating and assault, involvement of DIG and further threats to the victims as well as the journalists. The perpetrators, mentioned above, must be brought before the law and given sufficient punishment by impartial investigation without any interference from higher authorities. As far as the higher police officer has been involved in this case, I urge you to ensure that other independent unit be established to handle this case. Ms. Florence should be afforded adequate treatment for her injuries caused by the police and be granted adequate reparation. Threats or harassment against other local journalists and Mr. Wazir Querashi have been investigated as well.

I look forward to your prompt action in this case.

Yours sincerely,

----------------

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. General Pervez Musharraf
President
President's Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail: (please see - http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/WTPresidentMessage.aspx)

2. Mr. Muhammad Wasi Zafar
Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights
S Block Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 920 2628
E-Mail: minister@molaw.gov.pk

3. Mr. Justice Sabih Uddin
Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92-21-9213220
Email: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk 

4. Dr. Ishrat UL Ibad
Governor of Sindh province
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: + 92 21 920 1201

5. Dr. Arbab Abdul Rahim
Chief Minister of Sindh
Chief Minister House
Karachi
PAKISTAN

6. Chief Secretary
Government of Sindh
Chief Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh province,
PAKISTAN
Email: cs.sindh@sindh.gov.pk 

7. Secretary
(Criminal Prosecution) SGA &CD Department
Government of Sindh
Sindh Secretariat,
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Email: secy.cpsd@sindh.gov.pk

8. Dr. Faqir Hussain
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court Building
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92-51-9213770
E-mail: registrar@supremecourt.gov.pk

9. H.E. Ambassador Regis de Belenet
Embassy of France in Pakistan
Diplomatic Enclave G5
GPO Box 1068
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 227 8730/1/2
Fax: +92 51 282 2538/ 282 5389
Email: ambafra@isb.comsats.net.pk

10. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR TORTURE)

11.  Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
Room 3-042
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN)

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)