The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the beating and subsequent killing of Mr. Ibrahim Arman Loni, a teacher and Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) [1] core committee member in Balochistan Province, the arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, and subsequent release of Ms. Gulalai Ismail [2], a Pashtun and women’s rights defender, and the arbitrary detention of 17 other PTM members.
According to the information received, on February 2, 2019, Mr. Ibrahim Arman Loni was targeted by several police officers, who beat him in public with a rifle butt, giving blows to his head and neck. Mr. Ibrahim Arman Loni had just participated in a peaceful sit-in protest against a bomb blast at Loralai police station, Balochistan Province. His co-workers were prevented from visiting him in the hospital. By the time they managed to do so, a few hours later, he had passed away.
On February 5, 2019, Ms. Gulalai Ismail and other members of the PTM were arrested outside the National Press Club in Islamabad while they were taking part in a protest to denounce thekillingof Mr. Ibrahim Arman Loni. Ms. Gulalai Ismail was first taken to G9 Women’s Police Station before being moved to an unknown location. Seventeen of the PTM members arrested [3] were sent to Central Jail Rawalpindi (also known as Adiala jail) under charges of violating Section 3 (1) of the 1960 West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) relating to “anti-state slogans”.
On February 6, 2019, Islamabad police released Ms. Gulalai Ismail. After her release, Ms. Gulalai Ismail said that she had not been officially arrested. During her detention, she was separated from the other PTM members who had been arrested, was not charged with any offense, and was not allowed to contact her lawyer.
On February 7, 2019, 15 of the 17 PTM members were released from jail and the charges against them were withdrawn. At the time of the publication of this Appeal, Mr. Abdullah Nangyal and Mr. Idrees Mehsud, one of PTM leaders, are still detained in Adiala jail.
The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms the killing of Mr. Arman Loni and urges the Pakistani authorities to carry out a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killing without undue delay and to hold those responsible accountable.
The Observatory also condemns the arrest and harassment of Ms. Gulalai Ismail and the above-mentioned PTM members. The Observatory also recalls that this is not the first time Ms. Gulalai Ismail has been targeted for her human rights activities and that since October 2018 she has been placed on Pakistan’s Exit Control List and prevented from leaving the country.
The Observatory calls upon the Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Messrs. Abdullah Nangyal and Idrees Mahsud and end any acts of harassment, including at the judicial level, against them, Ms. Gulalai Ismail and all human rights defenders in the country.
How You Can Help
Please write to the authorities in Pakistan, urging them to:
i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical integrity and psychological well-being of Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Abdullah Nangyal and Mr. Idrees Mehsud and all human rights defenders in Pakistan;
ii. Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Abdullah Nangyal and Mr. Idrees Mehsud, as their detention is arbitrary since it only aims at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities;
iii. Carry out an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killing of Mr. Arman Loni in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before an independent tribunal, and sanction them as provided by the law;
iv. Put an end to all acts of harassment – including at the judicial level – and obstacles to freedom of movement against Ms. Gulalai Ismail, Mr. Abdullah Nangyal and Mr. Idrees Mehsud, all PTM members and all human rights defenders in Pakistan, and ensure that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals in all circumstances;
v. Conform to the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in particular with Articles 1 and 12.2;
vi. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Pakistan.
Addresses
Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan; Fax: +92 51 920 8479; Email: secretary@president.gov.pk
Mr. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Minister in Charge for Interior and Narcotics Control; Fax: +92 51 922 04 04 ; Email: info@pmo.gov.pk
Mr. Shehryar Khan Afridi, Minister of State for Interior, Fax: +92 51 920 2624, Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
Ambassador Farukh Amil, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Fax:022 734 80 85; Email: mission.pakistan@ties.itu.int
Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Pakistan located in your country.
