Global day of action for troubled Pakistan

Lawyers, judges and journalists will present a petition to the High Commission of Pakistan in London today, as part of a global day of action to demand justice in the troubled country.

Amnesty International said the petition, addressed to General Pervez Musharraf, will demand full respect for freedom of expression in Pakistan, the release of all those arbitrarily detained under the State of Emergency, reinstatement of the independent judiciary, justice for the victims of enforced disappearance and no introduction of military tribunals for civilians.

The human rights charity is also calling on governments to suspend all forms of security cooperation, including military assistance, until Pakistan lifts the emergency measures.

Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan will lead a delegation to present the petition, which comes amid growing international condemnation of the regime.

Thousands of Amnesty members are expected to join with journalists and lawyers in Pakistan as part of the global day of action.

Demonstrations will also take place in Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, Norway, Paraguay, Switzerland, Turkey, and the US.

Opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has said she has been left with no choice but to ask the President to quit.

The call came after the Commonwealth gave General Musharraf an ultimatum that he must either lift the state of emergency within 10 days or face Pakistan being suspended.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband backed the Commonwealth position but refused to be drawn on Ms Bhutto’s latest comments.

Meanwhile, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif today vowed to return to the troubled country.

Speaking to GMTV by telephone from Saudi Arabia he said: “I will certainly make another attempt to return to Pakistan because my country needs me.

“I am in touch with Benazir Bhutto. She is expressing her desire to come back and we will be very happy to work together and launch a joint struggle against the dictator.

“It’s important for me to go back now.”

Mr Sharif described the arrest of former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan as a “very serious matter”.