Situation in Pakistan

A break from the Alaska stories.

Today I heard news about Aasim Akhtar who I went to school with at United World College. I've been following the situation in Pakistan only loosely on NPR (radio), but I now feel it much closer. I wasn't super close to Aasim and hadn't previously heard about his campaigning for human rights in Pakistan, but we were all relatively close at UWC, and Aasim was very good friends with Jason Lees, the New Zealander one year below me. And this news certainly impacted me. (more)

During recent protests as Gen. Pervez Musharaf delayed elections, police assumed state of emergency powers and arrested 500 protesters in 24 hours. Apparently only his wife Asha (below) refusing to take no for an answer stopped Aasim being one of those, but they are now in hiding. Can you imagine the reality of this?

After college, when most of us UWC grads found a nice job and comfortable living, Aasim returned to Pakistan and started PRM (Peoples' Rights Movement), organizing poor and homeless/ landless farmers for basic human rights. Not the most popular guy with the government.

In Aasim's case, this is not a case of cracking down on 'Islamic terrorism' - the excuse Musharaf has put forward to delay elections - but rather suppressing protests for democracy and human rights.

Even national cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan has fled house arrest and is also in hiding. "They are using sheer force against lawyers, human rights organizations, political activists and all genuine opposition leaders are in jail," Khan wrote in the e-mail statement. "The police have ransacked my house and ill treated my family members." (ref)

I'm kind of at a lose for words or even a well-defined reaction to this beyond disgust at Musharaf's regime. It is both half a world away, and close to home. At UWC we were exhorted to think globally, act locally; to stand up for rights, to try to be the difference. Of course that can happen at many levels, but how many of us are doing that like Aasim is - beyond the adolescent idealism, bourgeois benevolence, and self-assuaging tokenism - on the real front lines?

Aasim wants to stay in Pakistan and continue his work and passion. I really feel for him and his family and friends trying to help him now. Aasim and Asha, your bravery is truly impressive. If I had one to call on, I'd ask him to bless you and look out for you. I feel that I can't do much more than wish and hope for your physical safety, and that you're able to continue successfully your fight for human rights without grave loss of your own.