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Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Rights' violations: PTI finalises post-Ashura protest plan
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab has begun finalising its protest strategy in the light of directives issued by PTI's Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan, which is expected to be launched after Ashura 'to resist the ongoing human rights violations in the country and to restore constitutional and legal order'. According to the PTI Punjab, meetings are underway across different regions of the party under the supervision of Chief Organiser Punjab Aliya Hamza. Regional leadership is being consulted, and practical, on-the-ground strategies are being devised. To mobilise party workers, organisational office-bearers at the district, tehsil, and regional levels have been assigned responsibilities. 'In the face of this oppression and injustice, protest is now our only remaining option. The inhumane treatment and cruelty being inflicted upon PTI founder Imran Khan is condemnable and intolerable; detaining a political leader under such severe restrictions and in clear violation of human rights is the worst form of state oppression and political revenge,' it added. According to the party, Khan is kept confined for 22 hours a day in a small, dark cell with no sunlight or fresh air. This is not merely imprisonment, but it is systematic mental and physical torture. As a result of this inhumane treatment, he is rapidly losing weight, and his health is deteriorating. Yet the extent of state oppression is such that he is not even allowed to meet his physician. To make matters worse, Khan has been completely isolated from his family, legal team, and party leadership. This represents a grim image of authoritarianism in Pakistan. 'This treatment of Pakistan's greatest national hero is not only a clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan and the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978 but also of the United Nations' Nelson Mandela Rules. According to these regulations, every prisoner has an inalienable right to natural light and air, a balanced diet, daily exercise and walking, regular medical checkups, and meetings with family, lawyers, and associates. If a globally renowned leader, a former Prime Minister, and a national hero can be deprived of these basic rights, it raises a painful question for the entire world: is Pakistan truly a democracy or has it become a political torture chamber,' it said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Plea by jailed Separatist leader's daughter unites leaders across Kashmir's political divide
A daughter's appeal for better treatment of his jailed father on 'humanitarian grounds' has united the Valley's political leaders across the divide. The appeal, made by jailed separatist leader Shabir Shah's younger daughter, has prompted reactions from the ruling National Conference to the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference to Hurriyat. Shah has been in Tihar jail since 2017. 'This is not political. This is not anti-national. This is not against any country, institution, or government. This is only about my father's life. His health. His right to be treated with dignity. Is your conscience alive?' Shah's daughter Sehar Shabir posted on X. 'My father, Shabir Shah, has spent 38 years in prison. No conviction. No justice. Today, he is gravely ill. He has been advised multiple surgeries. Yet there is no proper care, no access to medical records, and not even a single phone call in two years which is a right every prisoner is entitled to,' she alleged. The family has been kept away, she alleged. In her appeal, Sehar claimed that her father has been advised surgery for 'possible prostate cancer' but his family is being kept away and 'not given access to his medical records for the last three years'. Responding to her appeal, Srinagar MP and National Conference Leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking immediate medical care for Shah. 'Shabir Ahmad Shah is now 70 years old. By every humane and legal standard, he is entitled to medical treatment with dignity and fairness. His doctors have recommended three surgeries for serious medical conditions which include life-threatening prostate cancer. Despite the gravity of his condition, he remains incarcerated since 2017, without family support,' Ruhullah said in his letter. '…Our country has legal and moral obligations, under both its Constitution and international treaties to ensure that prisoners are treated with humanity'. Seeking fair medical treatment to undertrials, Ruhullah said that in Shah's case 'multiple obligations appear to have directly been contravened'. 'The Nelson Mandela Rules (Rules 24 and 26) mandate that prisoners must receive the same standard of health care available to the general population. In Shabir Shah's case, one can quote multiple such obligations that appear to have directly been contravened,' reads the letter. It further says: 'There are clear precedents in domestic law in support of fair medical treatment of undertrials. Zahoor Watali and Gautam Navlakha were both granted house arrest on medical and humanitarian grounds by Indian courts…Why the same consideration can't be extended to Mr. Shah, whose legal status remains that of an undertrial, is a question his family has constantly raised…The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test'. Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti has also urged the Home Minister to take a humanitarian view in Shah's case 'Request @HMOIndia to urgently consider the heartfelt appeal of Seher Shabir whose father Shabir Shah is battling a life-threatening illness. In this critical moment we urge GOI to take a humanitarian view by ensuring he receives proper medical care. This may be the family's last chance to ease his suffering. Please let compassion guide the response,' Mufti said in a post on X. Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone demanded better medical facilities for Shah. 'Shabir Shah sahib is not well. And getting treatment is a very basic right. I humbly stand with his loved ones in demanding that he be allowed access to proper medical facilities — and the very basic right of being surrounded by his family as he fights for his health,' Lone said on X. Hurriyat chairman and the Valley's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq voiced grave concern over Shah's health and urged the Centre to 'uphold the human rights of the prisoners'. 'Reports of Shabir Shah Sahab's serious health condition in Tihar Jail, and denial of access to his family members to talk to him on phone for the past two years, or care for him when he is facing such a medical emergency and is in dire need of a surgery, is very unfortunate and disturbing,' Mirwaiz said. Shah was arrested in 2017 in an alleged terror funding case and has been lodged in Tihar jail since. In 2023, the centre banned the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) headed by Shah as an unlawful organisation. A separatist leader, Shah has spent over 38 years of his life in prison. Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Srinagar MP Mehdi calls for dignified medical care to separatist Shabir Shah
Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Ruhullah Mehdi, has written to Union home minister Amit Shah for proper and dignified medical treatment to the undertrial separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah at a facility equipped with cancer treatment. Srinagar member of Parliament from Ruhullah Mehdi (File) The National Conference leader and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar also sought the involvement of Shah's family in the medical decisions for his treatment. 'Shabir Ahmad Shah is now 70 years old. By every humane and legal standard he is entitled to medical treatment with dignity and fairness. His doctors have recommended three surgeries for serious medical conditions which include life-threatening prostate cancer. Despite the gravity of his condition, he remains incarcerated since 2017, without family support,' Mehdi wrote in the letter. Shah, 74, has been incarcerated in Tihar Jail after he was arrested by the enforcement directorate on July 25, 2017, in a 2005 money laundering case. On October 4, 2019, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet in another case against Shah and four others, including Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam, Engineer Rashid and Asiya Andrabi, before a Delhi court. The offences included Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against government of India), 121A (conspiracy to wage war) and 124A (sedition) of the IPC. 'During visit to Safdarjung Hospital on May 1, 2025, his family has alleged that he was subjected to harassment and degrading treatment by escorting officers, and that access to his medical records has also been withheld from them,' Mehdi wrote. The Srinagar MP said that our country has legal and moral obligations, under both its Constitution and international treaties to ensure that prisoners are treated with humanity. 'Article 10(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a party, mandates that prisoners must be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. The Nelson Mandela Rules (Rules 24 and 26) mandate that prisoners should receive the same standard of health care available to the general population. In Shabir Shah's case, one can quote multiple such obligations that appear to have been blatantly contravened,' the letter said. He said that there are clear precedents in domestic law in support of fair medical treatment of undertrials. 'Zahoor Watali and Gautam Navlakha were both granted house arrest on medical and humanitarian grounds by Indian courts. These decisions acknowledge that incarceration must not come at the cost of life and dignity, particularly when there is no proven risk of escape or subversion. With the same consideration can it not be said then, for Shah, whose legal status remains that of an undertrial, is a question of his basic human rights?,' Mehdi said. 'I urge you to ensure that Shabir Shah is provided dignified medical care in a facility equipped for cancer treatment. The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test,' Mehdi stated. Various political leaders of Kashmir have called for a humanitarian response from the government so that Shah receives proper medical care owing to his serious medical condition. Shah's daughter, Sehar Shah on Monday had issued an appeal for compassion and access to proper medical care for her father.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
A Kashmiri daughter's plea unites Valley's leaders – ‘watched him suffer in silence'
A daughter's fervent appeal for better treatment of his jailed father on 'humanitarian grounds' has united the Valley's political leaders across the divide. The appeal, made by jailed separatist leader Shabir Shah's younger daughter, has united leaders across the political divide — from the ruling National Conference to the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference to Hurriyat. Shah has been in Tihar jail since 2017. 'This is not political. This is not anti-national. This is not against any country, institution, or government. This is only about my father's life. His health. His right to be treated with dignity. Is your conscience alive?' Shah's daughter Sehar Shabir posted on X. 'My father, Shabir Shah, has spent 38 years in prison. No conviction. No justice. Today, he is gravely ill. He has been advised multiple surgeries. Yet there is no proper care, no access to medical records, and not even a single phone call in two years which is a right every prisoner is entitled to,' she said. The family has been kept away, she wrote. 'I have watched him suffer in silence, behind soundproof walls, iron grills, and broken microphones. We cannot even touch him… This is a daughter's plea for compassion, for justice, and for basic humanity. If you still have a heart, please hear me. If justice means anything, let it speak now. Not when it is too late. Because if silence wins again, remember You were told. You knew. And you chose to look away,' she wrote. In her appeal, Sehar went on to say that his father has been advised surgery for 'possible prostate cancer' but his family is being kept away and 'not given access to his medical records for the last three years'. Responding to her appeal, Srinagar MP and National Conference Leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking immediate medical care for Shah. 'Shabir Ahmad Shah is now 70 years old. By every humane and legal standard, he is entitled to medical treatment with dignity and fairness. His doctors have recommended three surgeries for serious medical conditions which include life-threatening prostate cancer. Despite the gravity of his condition, he remains incarcerated since 2017, without family support,' Ruhullah said in his letter. '…Our country has legal and moral obligations, under both its Constitution and international treaties to ensure that prisoners are treated with humanity'. Seeking fair medical treatment to undertrials, Ruhullah said that in Shah's case 'multiple obligations appear to have directly been contravened'. 'The Nelson Mandela Rules (Rules 24 and 26) mandate that prisoners must receive the same standard of health care available to the general population. In Shabir Shah's case, one can quote multiple such obligations that appear to have directly been contravened,' reads the letter. It further says: 'There are clear precedents in domestic law in support of fair medical treatment of undertrials. Zahoor Watali and Gautam Navlakha were both granted house arrest on medical and humanitarian grounds by Indian courts…Why the same consideration can't be extended to Mr. Shah, whose legal status remains that of an undertrial, is a question his family has constantly raised…The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test'. Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti has also urged the Home Minister to take a humanitarian view in Shah's case 'Request @HMOIndia to urgently consider the heartfelt appeal of Seher Shabir whose father Shabir Shah is battling a life-threatening illness. In this critical moment we urge GOI to take a humanitarian view by ensuring he receives proper medical care. This may be the family's last chance to ease his suffering. Please let compassion guide the response,' Mufti said in a post on X. Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone demanded better medical facilities for Shah. 'Shabir Shah sahib is not well. And getting treatment is a very basic right. I humbly stand with his loved ones in demanding that he be allowed access to proper medical facilities — and the very basic right of being surrounded by his family as he fights for his health,' Lone said on X. Hurriyat chairman and the Valley's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq voiced grave concern over Shah's health and urged the Centre to 'uphold the human rights of the prisoners'. 'Reports of Shabir Shah Sahab's serious health condition in Tihar Jail, and denial of access to his family members to talk to him on phone for the past two years, or care for him when he is facing such a medical emergency and is in dire need of a surgery, is very unfortunate and disturbing,' Mirwaiz said. Shah was arrested in 2017 in an alleged terror funding case and has been lodged in Tihar jail since. In 2023, the centre banned the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) headed by Shah as an unlawful organisation. A separatist leader, Shah has spent over 38 years of his life in prison.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NC MP demands treatment 'with dignity and fairness' to ailing separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah
Srinagar, National Conference leader and Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide medical treatment "with dignity and fairness" to ailing separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is lodged in Tihar Jail. NC MP demands treatment 'with dignity and fairness' to ailing separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah "I write to you with concern regarding the condition of an elderly detainee whose life now hangs in the balance. Shabir Ahmad Shah is now 70 years old. "By every humane and legal standard, he is entitled to medical treatment with dignity and fairness," Mehdi said in his letter to the Union home minister. Mehdi urged Amit Shah to ensure that "Shabir Shah is provided dignified medical care in a facility equipped for cancer treatment". He said this process must involve his family in all medical decisions, as permitted by law. "The measure of a nation is how it treats its weakest. Let us not fail that test," he said. The Lok Sabha member from Srinagar said the doctors of the separatist leader have recommended three surgeries for serious medical conditions which include life-threatening prostate cancer. "Despite the gravity of his condition, he remains incarcerated since 2017, without family support. During his medical visit to Safdarjung Hospital on May 1, 2025, his family alleged that he was subjected to harassment and degrading treatment by the escorting officers, and that access to his medical records has also been withheld from them," he said. "Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , to which India is a party, mandates that prisoners must be 'treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person'," he said. "The Nelson Mandela Rules mandate that prisoners must receive the same standard of health care available to the general population. In Shabir Shah's case, one can quote multiple such obligations that appear to have directly been contravened," he added. Mehdi said there are clear precedents in domestic law in support of fair medical treatment of undertrials. "Zahoor Watali and Gautam Navlakha were both granted house arrest on medical and humanitarian grounds by Indian courts. These decisions acknowledged that incarceration must not come at the cost of life and dignity, particularly when there is no proven risk of escape or subversion. "Why the same consideration can't be extended to Mr Shah , whose legal status remains that of an undertrial, is a question his family has constantly raised," he said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
