Truth Speaker: An Interview with a torture victim
Please tell the readers about you early life
My complete name is Aftab hassan Khan by Education I'm an
Electronics and Computer system engineer.Born in district
Umerkot Sindh,in 1979 . Graduated from The Karachi college of
Computer Science, Karachi and completed Diploma of Associate
Engineer in Electronics Engineering from Sindh board of
Technical education Karachi. I started writing for weekly
magzine 'Workers Struggle' on regularly basis my friends and
father has encouraged me to write for the paper.
During my studies in the Karachi from 1996 to 2003, I was
introduced to the ideas of Marxism by Left student
organizationsuch as National Student Federation.We were in the
opposite camp of Islami Jamiat Tulba. We had several clashed
physical and ideological with IJT and were neck to neck in our
support for the Left wing ideas. I was elected Hall secretary of
our student house.
After my studies I joined a NGO working for the democratic
development of Pakistan, bringing peace in south Asia and Labour
rights in in particular but was also working for women and Human
rights in the country. I become the editor of the monthly
magzine ' Democracy News' and started writting regulary for the
magzine.During the course of fighting for a Democratic Pakistan,
I have been arrested several times. All of my arrests were of
political nature. It was some of my writings against the
military dictatorship of General Musharraf that I had to leave
the country in 2003. I opted to go to Sweden to seek asylum
there.
Why did you start to work against the injustice in the country?
Leading an authentic life according to conscience, honesty and a
commitment to truth can, at times, be very difficult. I was
hardly of 18 years when, as a member of a supressed society , my
concerns for the poor, needy and oppressed people were
continually troubling me.
In the General Musharraf's so called democratic MILITARY
GOVERNMENT. To speak of one's own rights, of lashes inflicted
upon people, of independence, peace and democracy is deemed a
great crime. Due to global interests, the United States
maintaines close relations with Musharraf and supports both him
and his Military Government In these days, the person who spoke
of democracy is considered a member of Al-Qiada or an agent of
RAW.
The Pakistani army, Police and the Rangers raided our home
several times. They took away everything; they did not even
leave a single one of our pet chickens. They stripped my father,
mother and sisters naked and rained lashes on their bare backs.
Mortal pen sometimes stops to mention such things or flowing
tears from the poor eyes vanish away the written matters. At the
top of these tortures, which is actually very difficult to
describe or write down, is the arrest of my own blood, my
father, my mother and my sister, being dragged to the police
station and inhuman insult, and they have killed my father.
Now I am constrained to disclose that in order to avoid torture
and inhuman insult for championing the freedom of women, child
labor, reduction of school fees, improvement in the standards of
teaching and schools and universities in general, fostering love
among the student community, and speaking against the torture of
my parents, it was necessary for me to go into exile. Life is
preferred to death; even if the cost is greater in choosing it,
it makes possible the saving of even more lives. This exile
continued from september 2003 and I have not seen my sweet
mother and sisters during all this time. Until now, I am not in
the position to correspond with them because of the strict
espionage of the cruel government.
Thirst for human blood, the claws of brutes and savage animals,
espionage and torture by sophisticated weapons are still
obstacles that obstruct the expression of human values and the
innate love between mother and son.
Which difficulties and torture have you faced during all your
activities in Pakistan?
Now, I briefly relate the hardships and sufferings that I have
experienced during my all exile period. Once the Pakistani law
inforcment agencies has captured me and inflicted great inhuman
torture upon my person by making me naked and sprinkling very
hot water on my body which caused blisters on my skin. The
blisters and injuries took years together in their healing. They
immersed chiles in my anus. My brown complexion had so much
darkened that nobody could even recognize me. Anyway, after some
time, I was able to escape the dark dungeons and remained
fugitive to unknown places where God almighty kept me alive.
Sometime afterwards, I was again captured by the brutes. But God
is great who blinded their eyes and they released me saying that
I was not the same Aftab. Thanks to God.
The personnel of the pakistani law enforcment agencies in plain
clothes arbitrarily arrested .After my arbitrary arrest, I was
taken to the unknown place where I was brutally tortured
including hitting of continuous blows on my chest and knees by
batons. My both legs have been broken and I was in a critical
condition fighting for my life. I was kept in incommunicado
detention and denied meetings with his family members. My
lawyers have also been denied access. I was inhumanly tortured
to force me to sign a pre-written confessional statement
prepared by the State accepting crimes that I have not
committed. The Military Regime with the view to malign the image
of the me.
Articles 9 and 7 of the Constitution of Pakistan prohibits
arbitrary arrests and torture and prescribes that no one can be
detained for more than twenty-four (24) hours without being
charged and produced in a Court of Law. Plethora of
international laws, U N Conventions and Treaties also contain
these provisions, which are respected in many parts of the world
while totally disregarded in Pakistan, particularly in case of
those who speak agaisnt the injustice and undemocratic
government in the country. Statements under duress are unlawful
and taken purely for victimising political opponents in
Pakistan.
Why is the state of human rights so bad in Pakistan?
For the development and protection of human rights, people's
participation in decision-making is vital. Where people have no
role in governance, the state of human rights will remain
abominable. Also, 'human rights' is not one indicator. Human
rights cover a broad range of concerns. Sometimes you may see
improvement in one sector and deterioration in another. On the
whole, the main issue in Pakistan is, unless the people get due
say in running the affairs of the state, the condition of human
rights cannot be improved.
How do you see the future of democracy in Pakistan?
Pakistan doesn't have democracy. We have only the facade of
democracy. Prime Minister or Foreign Minister Kasuri have no
say, nor can they exercise power.
Prior to taking over power Musharraf was calling Pakistani
democracy a sham democracy. He claimed he wants to bring the
real one. All Pakistani dictators said the same thing. They
think Pakistan needs a democracy which they can guide. Our
dictators wants to define democracy in their own way and then
support that democracy, which suits them and serves their
interests.
I believe that without a genuine workers' democracy, there is no
future for the working class in Pakistan. The capitalist
democracy has not delivered and it failed again and again in
Pakistan. Capitalist politicians cannot conceive a democracy
without the support of the military. We think military
domination has to end if democracy has to survive in Pakistan.
Does Musharraf have an exit strategy?
No he does not. He thinks if he remains head of the army nobody
will throw him out. He fails to remember that army chiefs in
Pakistan have not had a very nice life. Yahya Khan went to Ayub
and told him, 'Go home sir' and he had to.
General Gul Hasan went to Yahya and said, 'Go home sir,' and he
had to. General Zia died and if he was killed it had to be by
his own men.
General Asif Nawaz died and again if he was killed it is because
his own men wanted a change. Gen Karamat resigned and Musharraf
himself was about to be killed in a plane crash.
In Pakistan's history other dictators have used the referendum
to remain in power. This is an old trick. General Zia-ul Haq did
the same. General Ayub did the same. By a fraudulent referendum
Musharraf declared himself elected. He claimed that on the basis
of the Supreme Court's verdict he has got powers to amend the
constitution. On the basis of that dubious law he passed a Legal
Framework Order and amended the constitution in August 2002.
The effect of that order is that it virtually rewrites the
constitution in major areas like parliamentary democracy,
federalism in Pakistan, and judiciary and its powers. We are
very disturbed. The whole purpose behind the exercise was to
keep himself in power.
What do you think of the status of women and minorities in
Pakistan?
Women in Pakistan are considered half of men legally and
traditionally. I am for equal rights for women in all fields. I
think that the state has to take dramatic measures to improve
the conditions of women. I demand to repeal all discriminatory
laws, which make women half and inferior to men. The religious
minorities of Pakistan are subject to all sorts of
discriminatory laws. In fact, they are considered second-class
citizens. They are normally framed in different cases on
religious grounds. They are given inferior jobs like cleaning
and so on. They are treated like untouchables. I stand for an
immediate repeal of all discriminatory laws, including the
blasphemy laws. Religious minorities should be offered special
quotas in all the jobs created nationally. They should be given
special attention in the field of education, health and
information technology.
What are your comments on the rise of fundamentalism, and the
impact of Taliban's defeat on Pakistan?
The rise of fundamentalism in Pakistan is, in fact, a vote of
no-confidence of the working people in capitalist and feudal
parties. It is the failure of these parties in power, which has
given rise to religious fanaticism. Religious fanaticism is an
expression of total degeneration of the society into extreme
conservative traditions. The rise can also be blamed on the
narrow immediate interests of the ruling classes and of military
regimes in Pakistan.
The defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan will affect the
strategies of the military regime in Pakistan in immediate
terms. But you cannot kill any ideas by force. I see that in
future, the extreme fanatics might go underground, but the
serious religious parties like Jamaate Islami and Jamiat Ulema
Islam will grow in their influence and electoral basis. They
might fetch an unprecedented vote in the next general elections
if allowed to take part in the elections.
Do you Support a complete ban on religious organizations?
I am in in favor of state banning the Jihadies organizations
that are advocating killings on the name of Islam. But I am
totally opposed to ban the religious organizations by the state.
I want all the religious trends to have a full freedom to
advocate their ideas in a democratic and peaceful manner. But I
oppose those religious fanatics who are in favor of killings the
opposite religious sects and individuals.
Are you hopeful about the outcome of the Indo-Pak peace efforts?
No, I am not hopeful. I think both sides are not interested. I
strongly feel so. All this is drama to show off to the
international community. Both sides are trying to score points.
I believe if there is a liberal and open visa policy, things
will change radically. In early September 2003, a high-powered
Indian delegation was to come to Lahore consisting of judges and
lawyers. They were denied visas by Pakistan. Similar things have
happened in India. Both governments want to divert the attention
of the people from the real issues. Let people know themselves
the real differences between the two countries.