Bear baiting has been occurring in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan, since 2004. The events are organized predominantly by local warlords who own the fighting dogs.

During the event the bear will be tethered to a rope 2–5 metres long in the centre of an arena to prevent escape. Bears’ canine teeth are often removed and their claws may be filed down giving them less advantage over the dogs. Each fight lasts around three minutes. If the dogs pull the bear to the ground they are said to win the fight. Bears usually have to undergo several fights during each day’s event.

Bears are illegally sourced by poaching. Asiatic black bears and brown bears are known to be poached in Pakistan and used in bear baiting. Asiatic black bears are listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Animals.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiting

Celebrated social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi who breathed his last on July 08, opened his first clinic in 1951 to begin his lifelong journey for the welfare of the downtrodden segments of Pakistani society.

Motivated by a spiritual quest for justice, over the years Edhi and his team have created maternity wards, morgues, orphanages, shelters, and homes for the elderly aimed at helping those in society who cannot help themselves.

He was also mentioned in the Guinness Book of world records for the largest fleet of ambulances, offering help to poor sections of the society failed by inadequate public health and welfare services.These 1500 ambulances are the most prominent symbols of the foundation deployed to the scene in case of an emergency or extremist attack.

The foundation's adoption service sees unwanted children -- many of them girls -- left in cradles placed in front of every centre, where they can be safely cared for.

Edhi discovered that many women were killing their unwanted babies at birth often because they were born outside marriage. One newborn child was stoned to death outside a mosque on the orders of religious leaders. He placed a little cradle outside every Edhi centre, beneath a placard saying: "Do not commit another sin: leave your baby in our care." Edhi has so far saved 35,000 babies and and also found families to cherish them.

Aasia Bibi, 45, was sentenced on November 8, 2010 by a court in Nankana district in Punjab. She was arrested in Ittanwalai village and prosecuted under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code, and has been awarded the death penalty.

We, the undersigned, believe that Aasia Bibi, being a working class Christian woman, is one of the many victims of religious intolerance and sectarian hatred, which is protected and promoted by Pakistan's vicious and obscene Blasphemy law.

The Blasphemy Laws in the Pakistan Penal Code are rooted in the Indian Penal Code of 1860 and they were introduced through Sections 295-B and 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code during the dictatorial regime of General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq. The newly-introduced sections aimed to protect holy personages of only one religion, i.e. Islam, which is the state religion. Section 295-C which was added by an act of the parliament in 1986, and made it a criminal offence to use derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Under Section 295-C, the offence was punishable with life imprisonment or death.

This is disastrous for the future of Pakistan as it will lead to horrendous problems. It will lead to the same chaotic situation that exists in our schools. Formula-based funding will be replaced with political favoritism.

We cannot be bystanders as the HEC is shredded into pieces. (Excerpts from Dr Atta-Ur-Rahman’s Article)

The two young brothers, Hafiz Muneeb, aged 19, and Hafiz Mughees, aged 15, became victims of mob fury on August 15 2010. While the Sialkot District Police Officer, Waqar Ahmed Chauhan, and eight other police officers remained silent spectators, the mob went on with the brutal beating session which led to their deaths. The bodies were then hanged upside down by the mob on a crossing. It went on to become a matter of national concern when the video footage of the brutal crime was aired repeatedly on a private television channel and then played in front of the courtroom.

The following Universal Declaration of Human Rights were violated for these two young men.

No 3. The Right to Life
No 5. No Torture
No 7. We ‘re All Equal Before the Law.
No 8. Your Human Rights are Protected by Law
No 11. We’re Always Innocent Till Proven Guilty.

More at :
www.dawn.com

www.thaindian.com

www.bolfm.com

www.youtube.com

Innocent lives have been taken in the presence of the police-force and presence of public. Both failed to take action to protect the rights of others.

Pakistan has regular instances of the killing of innocent people. The newspapers provide details of these incidents. They have become a norm in daily lives of the public of Pakistan. Lawlessness is on the increase. Unless we start a massive campaign of Human Rights for all, we are promoting Human Rights violations.

The spectators of Human Rights violations who do nothing to stop it, are themselves part of the violation of Human Rights. The truth is that the spectators failed to take responsibility for others in this incident.

Human Rights No 29 states: We have a duty to other people and we should protect their rights and freedoms.

WE ARE PLANNING A MASSIVE GLOBAL "e-Protest" TO RAISE OUR VOICE.

WORKING WITH "YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNATIONAL'' WE ARE TARGETING AT LEAST 10,000 SIGNATURES ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE WILL SEND THIS PETITION TO the GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN, SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN, UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICIANS, PRESS AND MEDIA.

PakTurk wouldn't be the same without these self sacrificing people. We strongly condemn this unjust decision. Where are the human rights? Where are the Islamic teachings? Where is humanity? The people who spend the golden period of their life in difficult conditions of extremely hot and freezing cold weathers of Pakistan, who didn't care of long power shut downs, who stayed in the conflict zones of our border provinces but didn't leave the sacred mission of imparting education, are now being asked to leave the country in 3 days and that too with their innocent children and infants! What a shame! What a disgrace for us being Pakistanis! What an unfaithful attitude!

Salman Rushdie has been a controversial figure, known less for his literary contribution and more for his offensive and insulting writings against Islam. He has earned notoriety throughout the world amongst Muslims for the highly insulting and vilifying manner in which he portrayed early Islamic figures.

We, the Muslims, understand that the citizens of UK are open hearted and amorous people who have no connection with racism and religious intolerance, which has made UK a land of umpteen dwellers of different religions and casts. Unfortunately, the same is not being displayed by their government which is only good for creating gap between Muslims and their citizens, thus giving air to more extremism.

This is yet another example of insensitivity to Muslim opinion which will only result in further alienation. This act is also against the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 1624 adopted in Sep 2005 which calls upon all UN member states for continuing efforts to enhance dialogue in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures.

Last petition
Political asylum request for Asia Bibi.
The signatures were sent to the President of the Italian Republic.

All letters sent are visible on the blog FREEDOM * DIGNITY * RESPECT
Link: http://freedom-dignity-respect.blogspot.com/

16 January 2009

Yesterday all girls' schools were shut in Swat. The population is terrorised by the militants and the military and government apparatus is paralysed. The voice of these citizens who have signed on this campaign has gone unheard. Today Swat and FATA are in a state of war. The campaign MUST continue. We MUST do what we can when we can.

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19 February 2008 (Post Pakistan General Elections)

Dear Reader, with the coming of a new government in the province and the country, we are more hopeful. We will continue our efforts, please continue with the signatures on this site.

Please note that the name of the Group that started this drive is now NWFP: Citizens for PEACE!

Group Coordinator
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PLEASE NOTE THE SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN IS NOW OPEN TO ALL DUE TO HEAVY DEMAND FROM NON-NWFP CITIZENS.

THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN STARTED BY AN INFORMAL 'NWFP: CITIZENS FOR PEACE' GROUP IN PAKISTAN. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PETITION, YOU CAN WRITE THESE DOWN DURING THE SIGNING PROCESS AND YOU WILL GET A RESPONSE FROM THE GROUP MODERATOR. MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS OF NWFP JOINED BY CONCERNED CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

(FROM THE NWFP: CITIZENS FOR PEACE)

UPDATE: Dear Signatories, thank you for your cooperation. We ended up with 3000 signatures from all over the world (by 16th Dec 2007) and the NWFP and the rest of Pakistan. Your signatures were all presented to the Acting Chief Minister, Mr Shams ul Mulk - except for those who asked to be kept confidential. WELL DONE AND CONTINUE THE CAMPAIGN.

MEETING WITH NWFP CHIEF MINISTER ON 16 DECEMBER 2007

The NWFP Citizen For Peace Group and some prominant citizens of the province met with the Chief Minister of NWFP today. Below are extracts from a press release covering the meeting. Also was present AVT Khyber which will cover the event in the news today.

PRESS RELEASE:

SAVE NWFP, SAVE PAKISTAN
Civil Society Delegation Meets NWFP Chief Minister
16 Dec 2007

A delegation of citizens of the NWFP, representing various sections of civil society, met Chief Minister Shams ul Mulk in Peshawar on Sunday morning. Speaking on behalf of the delegation Dr Khan, read out a Statement entitled ‘Save NWFP, Save Pakistan’, an appeal by the citizens of NWFP. The Statement registered an extreme sense of alarm at the deteriorating law and order situation in the province. It identified ill-conceived policies, faulty priorities and administrative ineptitude as prime causes of the anarchy that exists in various parts of the NWFP and the tribal areas today. It expressed deep concern that innocent citizens were becoming victims of violence and threats from extremists on the one hand and, on the other, they were suffering heavily because of actions taken by the armed forces. The citizens called on the government to ensure the security of all peace loving people and to attend to the many problems facing the poor. This Statement was signed by nearly 3000 women and men from all over the province and the country and also by ex-patriots from the US, UK, Canada and the Gulf. The signature campaign, which was started by the NWFP Progressive Citizens’ Group, is to continue.

The group stressed a dialogue between government and civil society at all levels ie from province to union council. It pointed out that one of the reasons for people joining extremist forces was that government had failed in its responsibilities to give justice and redressal to them. It urged that hydel profits owed to the NWFP should be realised immediately and spent on the welfare of the province.

Members of the delegation expounded on various difficulties facing ordinary citizens and the failure of government to alleviate them. The security situation in Peshawar had worsened over the past few years. Citizens of the city were carrying arms in their cars and avoided venturing out of their homes after dark. Pukhtun women feel increasingly unsafe in the province. Government is not transparent about the situation in the troubled areas and was thus viewed with suspicion. The citizens said that government should have a no-tolerance policy towards those undertaking future attacks on citizens, video and CD shops, something which is becoming common all over the province. They urged the Chief Minister to personally bring the matter to the notice of President Musharraf so as to make him realise the very serious nature of the crisis facing the NWFP. The Chief Minister assured the delegation that he would personally take up the matter with the President. He also endorsed the idea of a dialogue between civil society and government, to develop more effective strategies against violence. He mentioned the recent case where the citizens of Kalam had stood firm against disruptive elements and did not let them into their area. He agreed with the suggestion that public recognition of the good work of these citizens should be expressed by government widely. The Chief Minister said that he himself shared the concerns that had been expressed. And though he was in office for a very short time he would do his best to resolve the difficulties that had been identified.

The Chief Minister requested the citizens to draft a one-pager, providing him a schedule of dialogues between government and civil society organisations and the communities they work with and other concrete suggestions they may have.