Imam Anwar Via Tele-link @ Ramadan 2008 Charity Dinner

Imam Anwar al-Awlaki delivered this speech via teleconference at Another Ramadan 2008 charity dinner organised by Cageprisoners on the 7th September 2008 in Wandsworth Civic Suite, London.

Another Ramadan 2008

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Profiles of Pak Army Officers Disappeared under Musharraf’s Sharia

The information about individuals who have been court martialled is given at the end.

Following is some information about some of the approximately 30 Army officers detained without any charges levelled against them. Their crime is that they hold Islamic views that are in variance with the “enlightened moderation” theology that our beloved President is trying to pour down the nation’s throat. It is sure that these officers are absolutely not involved in any criminal or illegalactivity whatsoever. If they are guilty of something, it is that they are all observing muslims and that some of them showed public resentment against some of the government policies regarding the so-called “war on terror”. Granted, if they are in breach of Army discipline, there are clear laws to deal with such violations under Army Act. But to keep them detained for 18 months without levelling charges is “Habeus Corpus” and is a gross violation of fundamental rights of any citizen, let alone high ranking officers of an institution that many of us still want to respect in this country.

Some of these officers are detained in a 6ft. * 6ft. space the size of a closet. Having won the jewel of being named “the Frontline State” for their crown, perhaps our courageous rulers decided not to lag far behind in performance and to have a little Abu Gharib of their own. Can we ask our government if the citizens of this country have any right to question the legitimacy of its “war on terror” policies or to paticipate in policymaking regarding matters that might be life or death issues in the near future. Who has given a single man the right to decide the fate of 140 million people over a single call from Washington? Is it right for an Army Chief himself to wear a turban over his military uniform and address public rallies of this political party or that political party? The answer to all these questions clearly is NO. Under these circumstances if some of the officers have spoken their mind, they might be in violation of the Army’s discipline, but they are not in violation of their national duty.

The key to solving our national problems, for all of us, is to abide by law and respect our constitution. Lets raise our voice for these patriotic Army officers, so that their case be dealt with according to law of the land and not the law of jungle. On their part they have already served a term that is disproportionately longer than the maximum they could have legally been awarded.

Yours brotherly,
Asif Luqman Qazi
Kit Number 1658, RH.

Profiles of Army Officers

Col. Khalid Abbasi, Core of Signals (PA-20082)
Col. Khalid Abbasi holds a Communications Engineering Degree and worked at various ranks in Pakistan Army. A devoted soldier deeply inspired by the Pak Army’s motto  Eman, Taqwa, Jehad Fe Sabeelillah, Col. Abbasi devoted his life for the country. During the Kargil War, 1999, he made an official request to GHQ to post him at the war front, but the request was denied due to non- availability of a commanding post at the border. He made a further request for his demotion a rank of Major in order to facilitate his posting at the border as it was his utmost desire to lay down his life in the way of Allah as a martyr. But GHQ didn’t approve his request. This is all on record in GHQ files. Such a motivated and decorated solider has been picked up by agencies on 30 May 2003 on un-known charges and since then, didn’t return to his home.

Lt. Col. Ghaffar Babar Saffarzai, Army Aviation (PA-18212)
Hailing from DI Khan, Lt. Col. Ghaffar is an aviation pilot with extra-ordinary professional record in Pakarmy. About a year ago, one fine morning, he went to his office at HQ Army Aviation, Rawalpindi in morning at 7:30 a.m. and since then, he didn’t return back.

Major Ataullah Khan Mahmood, JAG Branch, HQ 2 Corps (PA-29888)
Major Ataullah was doing LLM course in Islamic International University, Islamabad and secured first position in the course. He was called to his office on 29 May 2003 and same day, his wife received his phone call informing her that he would remain away and he didn’t know what was happening to him. Since then, he has been in illegal confinement for unknown reasons. It was later on learnt that he was arrested by SIB (Special Investigation Bureau) on un-known charges.

Major Adil Q. Khan, Core of Signal
On 1st March 2003, when Maj. Adil Khan was preparing to come from Kohat to his home in Rawalpindi on holidays, he was called to his unit and since then he has been missing.

Major Rohail Faraz, HQ 2-Core
Hailing from infantry, Maj. Rohail serverd in 3rd Punjab and then for 6 years in SSG in AJ Kashmir. On 3 March 2003, in D.I. Khan, Maj. Rohail was called by his CO to take charge of the mess. He went to his office in his own car. From there, Maj. Rohail called his wife and told her that he was going to Rawalpindi on official work. He never came back.

Capt. Dr. Usman Zafar, (PA-104225)
Catp. Dr. Usman Zafar was posted at Majid Bn, Kel Sector, AJK. On 17 August 2003, his father received a phone call that Capt. Usman was called by DGPF in GHQ and since then he has been missing. The so-called Crime of the Officers

These officers were never involved in anti-government or any sort of terrorist activities. If this was true, they should have been tried under Army Act (Military Court) or Pakistan Penal Code. For last one and a half year, they have not been presented before any court of law.

The only crime of these officers was that all of them had beards and were practicing Muslims.

According to the information received by the families from various sources, these officers have been kept in solitary confinement in Attock Fort. Many times, they were blind folded, handcuffed at the back, long chains attached to handcuffs, head and face covered with black sacks and transported from one place to another. They were humiliated, disgraced and kept in conditions worst than animals in cells of 6 x 6 ft where they have to spend the days and nights. They have not been exposed to sunlight for months. They have not been provided with basic facilities such as fans, wash rooms, etc. Due to prolong confinement, these officers have developed serious health problems. At times, they are forced to urinate within the cells where they eat food as well. This is height of human degeneration and extremely disgusting moral wrong on part of the authorities ordering such restrictions. They have not been allowed to offer their prayers in jamaat and even denied the Friday Juma and Eid prayers right. Illegality of Confinement

Chapter VIII of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) deals with arrest and proceedings before trial as follows:

PAA Section 74 provides that the charge against the detained person must be investigated within forty eight hours.

PAA Section 75 stipulates that arrested person must be produced before Court Martial within eight days and if it becomes impracticable due to inevitable cause, a special report giving reasons for delay should be forwarded after eight days.

Note 12 a to PAA Section 73 directs that charge report be delivered within 24 hours of arrest to the custodian (who would deliver the same to the detained person as per AR(I) 370) otherwise it may constitute an offense of illegal, irregular confinement under PAA Section 51(2).

The above mentioned clauses of PAA demand speedy disposal of such cases but these have been ruthlessly violated. Other Officers Reportedly, there are around 25-30 other officers of Pak Army who have been subjected to same conditions for last many months. Their whereabouts are not known and their families have been so harassed that they don’t dare to speak out about missing of their loved ones.