Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Example of brave people who are standing upto the brutal dictator.

**One woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies](http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=302675)

Lahore, Nov 23 : Amina Masood Janjua was an ordinary housewife until July 30, 2005, when Pakistani intelligence agencies arrested her husband on charges that have yet to be made clear.

Janjua’s husband was locked away in an undisclosed location without a trial and has not been heard since.

**According to a report released on PBS’s website on September 6, international human rights groups estimate that several hundred Pakistanis have disappeared under the government label of “terrorism suspects” since September 11. **

**For many, their crime was apparently being either an overly devout Muslim or an outspoken critic of President Pervez Musharraf. **

The report by David Montero contends that most families of the detained have suffered silently or are too afraid to speak out. However, Janjua refused to submit and started a search for her husband.

**“There’s not a single country in the world that is targeting its own people like Pakistan,” Janjua told Montero. **

“I’ve been telling people that this is like a flood. If you don’t stand up today, you’ll be taken away tomorrow,” she said.
**
Montero said that no country has helped the US war on terrorism more than Pakistan. Nor, he adds, had any country been so handsomely rewarded, receiving one billion dollars annually from Washington for counter-terrorism operations since 9/11.

According to Montero, there are significant incentives for Pakistan to make arrests, but no one knows who exactly has been arrested and who determines whether the detained are terrorists or not.

The report questions whether those in custody are treated in accordance with human rights and due process standards, adding that asking such questions publicly is dangerous in Pakistan.

According to the report, this could all be changing thanks to Janjua, who has used the weapons of democracy - street protests, the free press and the country’s courts - to launch the first direct public campaign against the intelligence agencies.

What began, as Janjua’s private quest for her husband has become a movement that has rocked Pakistan’s military regime.

**Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took up a case she filed against the government in January 2007. He, for the first time in Pakistan’s 60-year history, forced the intelligence agencies and police branches to release prisoners they had long denied holding. ** [That was why he was sacked and put under house arrest ]

The case of the disappeared continued to gather momentum. Many of the missing have been quietly released, the Daily Times reported.

Montero states that Janjua helped pry back the lid on the most secretive organisation in Pakistan and its conduct since 9/11. Along the way, she inspired an unprecedented national discourse.

Today, Pakistani citizens who would never dare to publicly criticise the intelligence agencies are doing so freely throughout the country, the report concludes.

To date, the Supreme Court has compelled the government to release 60 missing persons.

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

political unrest in any country, hits the women first and foremost as their families, husbands, and children get affected. in the US, many women who are ordinary house wives, caucasians, african americans and spanish, are doing the same.
raising awareness about something abnormal and not-right, is the right thing to do.
of course the risk to women's own personal, property and familial security often times, keeps them out of the public arena of protects.

people who believe in rallies and mass walkings in the streets to make a point may be brave, but what needs to be done is to bring the issues out on tables, where people must talk to account for their actions and to come to resolutions.

best,
Dushwari

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Oh for crying out loud, her husband was a jihadi fund raiser and organizer, he left home on some mission...

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

So why not produce him before a court of law and convict him? Why this gunda gardi by the dictator? Please do answer. Also can you enlighten us as to how do you know he was a jihadi fund raiser?

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

I know my friend, many do. Even the family does, only they don't accept or admit it. As for producing him in court, sure I'm all for it, but these Jihaid suspects are not as easy or simple to handle under proper judicial system. We get what we got out of the Lal Masjid suspects,
"arrest>court>no proof-no confession-no information revealed or allowed to be extracted>released>suicide bombings and attacks in various parts of the country."

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

So you know him personally? Lal Masjid would not have been that big an issue if it had been nipped in the bud instead of the dictator using it to further strengthen his kursi.

There is no excuse for not producing them in court and convicting them, even a kangaroo court like the ones we have now. After all these courts have validated one type of gunda gardi by the drill master.

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

It is good to see the women are at the forefront of the current struggle.

Let's Go GREEN!!!
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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Excuse of sin is worse than sin, you continue to repeat lies of government without a single suicide bombing connected with release of "terrorists" released by courts.

Has it ever occurred to you that the govt also releases terrorists as part of 'bargains'?

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

arshad5,
it is also good to know that men like yourself dont get threatened by this activism by women. but are actually supportive of women who want to address socio-political disparaties and injustices in our society back at home.
of course women and men, must be always civil when protecting something.
best method as i said, is talking on table.
and taking to streets, unfortunately is a means of last resort as it creates mass scale awarding of negative attention to the powers that be, who are hugely responsible for the injustices and the unrest.
yet, the responsibility of keeping civil peace and prosperity falls on each and every member of the nation - men, women, children, youth, students, professionals from varied fields, law enforcement forces and the army.
hope is that in Pakistan, things will change for better and not for worse.
amen.

best,

Dushwari

2nd Semi-Final: Pakistan v India at Mohali, Wed March 30
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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

even americans & europeons make laws ... regarding that..... Situation in Pakistan alot different then civilized world... So we should not produce people like him in front of corrupt judiciary who works for masters ...

2nd Semi-Final: Pakistan v India at Mohali, Wed March 30
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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies


what about current judiciary, is it still corrupt enough not to produce them in courts now?

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

I don't feel threatened at all. I don't even see sex as an issue in all of this civil society struggle. I see men and women as individuals ,as equal citizens, with equal rights to express their feelings about the future direction of Pakistan. I would in fact encourage women to play a greater role in shaping society, and taking their rightful place in society.

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

It reminds me of Aisha, the lady who wrote the book of MILBUS (Military business) in Pakistan.

It is obvious why the na-pak generals want to stay in power. They want to keep filling their pockets at the expense of Pakistani people.

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Whatever the Government say, you see it as a lie so how can you think of yourself as someone who can give balanced view. For your information, suicide bombing happened about three weeks ago was done by Jihadi who was released by your beloved CJ. Sheikh Rashid said that on Geo. Now don't tell me that you don't believe him cause he is Liar as well.

Peace

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

One Day Mr Masood will be find Dead n will be labelled as a well known terrorist … Thanks To MUSH … No judicial inquiry ..No jail … :jhanda:

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Wah Wah .. Baree achee baat ki hai.

Shahid Khan Afridi....................The Son Of Pakistan
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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Jihadi ? wasnt he one of your own country-men? what made him blow up ? ohh yeah i remember probably the Zia regime ya? or is it the fault of weak educational infrustructure? or hmm could be a terrorist from across the border ? worth reading your thoughts i guess ....

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

I would like to ask those who claim that Janjua was innocent that, if he was innocent why intelligence would arrest him? Was there any person in intelligence who had grudge against Janjua? What was the problem? Obviously there are 160 million people in Pakistan, how many got arrested by intelligence like Janjua? Why him?

As for intelligence acting against a person, they have various different types of sources and many of those sources cannot be produced in courts, as producing some could even jeopardise country’s security and there are some that have its origin outside the country. That is the reason that when intelligence of any country if they think that it is appropriate to act against a person, they do, and judiciary do not poke their nose in security matters,

As for ex-CJ reference, here also I could not understand the grievances. When allegations came to President, he did not sacked ex-CJ but to give Iftikhar a fair hearing, President sent reference to SJC, what is the most appropriate thing to do. Result was that, media started lying bluntly, they started putting news that CJ was wronged and that CJ was sacked, even though government kept clearing their position that Iftikhar is not sacked, but he is under investigation. Anyhow, media kept lying and eventually SC stopped that investigation.

Now, that was ridiculous thing to do, as what media did was that they told government that since media is free, media can keep lying.

Similarly, even if government wanted to give fair deal to ex-CJ, as instead of sacking Iftikhar, government asked SJC to do investigation of allegation on CJ, but SC told government that to get lost, as they would not even allow investigation by SJC on CJ. At the same time, Iftikhar turned his investigation by SJC a political issue and most political parties plus monkey lawyers started playing to the musical tune of Iftikhar. What these people, Iftikhar, SC judges, lawyers, media, political parties and others wanted to do and what they meant by all that?

Is it that CJ who government appoints, can do all sort of wrong, corruption, nepotism, misuse of power, misconduct, use office of judge to influence others, etc, etc, still government cannot and should not do anything against CJ, not even get investigation of allegations on CJ done by SJC?

Well, so when SC did not allow proper investigation against CJ, Judges started challenging government and asked government to do whatever government can. Result is that, government gave a hard kick to all judges and sacked them, something that would not have happened if SC judges would have stayed within law, would have been cooperative and would have allowed investigation against CJ and would have let CJ defend himself in front of SJC that consisted of SC judges.

Further Iftikhar instead of making the investigation a political issue, should have tried to defend himself in front of SJC against the reference consisting of allegations on him. But no, this corrupt CJ wanted turmoil and that is what he got, a sack what he rightly deserved. if judges would have stayed within law and within their limits, would have allowed investigation against CJ by SJC, and media would have been responsible in reporting, than today media would not have seen the days what they have seen today neither SC judges would have seen the day they have seem today.

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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

My dear friend what about Maulana Masood Azhar and Mr. Dawood Ibrahim....please don't be so innocent to digest whatever crap these agencies are feeding you....My dear friend these agencies are the actual problem....not a solution to the problem....

They protect the real culprits and infact they breed the jihadis to achieve their evil goals....these agencies have been in absolute power for last 61 years in Pakistan....have you thought about it why the problem is ever increasing....just put yourself in to position of an innocent man who has been wrongly declared a terrorist....really I can tell you the real culprits are seldom punished while innocent people are made scape goats....Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim are living proof....still living under army mafia protection...how will you explain that>>>

I Need You Sweetheart
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Re: Woman who inspired Pakistanis to rise against intelligence agencies

Where do these agencies come from? These poeple do not belong to this country? I remember MQM's rant during 1995-1998 when they were killing innocent people and always saying that was the work of the "agencies"!