Demand Justice for Dr Amna Buttar

We are appalled at the Pakistani Governments brutality and ask for an inquiry to the Elite Police attack on ANAA's (Asian-American Network Against Abuse of human rights, www.4anaa.org ) President, Dr. Amna Buttar.





On April 3, 2007, in Islamabad Pakistan, at a rally organized to express support for Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, ANAA President Amna Buttar was rudely manhandled and molested The men who attacked her belonged to Elite Police, a special anti-terrorist police force controlled by the Ministry of Interior. A day before the attack, Dr.Buttar's family had once again received a threat from Brigadier Ijaz Shah, Director General of Intelligence Bureau, who informed Dr.Buttar's family that her presence was not welcome in Pakistan, and warned them that she will have to bear the consequences of her activism. The close proximity of the attack to the statement received by Dr.Buttar's family points clearly to the fact that it was deliberately designed to harass and intimidate her and prevent her from her activities as a human rights activist. General Musharrafs Government has heavily criticized and even publicly threatened ANAA and its organizers and specifically, Dr Amna Buttar. In December 2005, Dr Amna Buttar had received a death threat from Brigadier Ijaz Shah (New York Times, 4/4/06). Please also hear comments made by General Musharraf against ANAA while giving interview to Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2005/09/23/AU2005092301253.html).








I express my deep outrage and revulsion at the shameful attack on Dr.Buttar and the continuing tactics of intimidation and repression being used by the Government of Pakistan. The attack on Dr.Buttar follows attacks on peaceful protesters, privately owned television channels and the manhandling of even the Chief Justice of Pakistan. All of them illustrate the complete degeneration of respect for civil society organizations and human rights activists in Pakistan.





We condemn the reprehensible actions of the Pakistani Government and demand an unconditional apology by the government of Pakistan. We also demand an investigation into this matter and suspension and dismissal of highest ranking officials in Pakistan.