Pak VIPs’ rooms searched[FONT=Verdana,Arial][SIZE=-2]8/3/2006 12:23:43 AM[/SIZE][/FONT]- By Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Aug. 2: Prominent Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir, was shocked to find Delhi police officials searching her hotel rooms in south Delhi without a warrant, and apparently without a valid reason.
Ms Asma Jehangir, who sounded disturbed while narrating the incident, said, "We had checked into La Sagrita hotel in Sunder Nagar at around 6 pm on Monday. A few minutes later, two Delhi police officials barged into our rooms and started frisking our luggage. Surprisingly, there was no woman police constable with them. The incident has left us in a bitter mood. I am still unable to fathom why the Indian government has suspected our visit."
Ms Jehangir’s association with India goes back three decades and as a human rights activist she commands immense respect, admiration and affection in the Indian subcontinent. In all these years, she has faced no such humiliation. The incident has occurred despite the government’s engagement with Pakistan in a peace process.
The delegation is on a four-day visit to discuss rights violations issues in South Asian countries. Recalling the incident, she said the police official, whose nameplate read Kishan Kumar, thoroughly searched her room and the rooms of other four delegates — Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrfahim, a Pakistan high court judge; I.B.N. Abdur Rehman, Nepal activist Mohammadi Siddiqui and Sri Lanka activist Shiranthi Jayatilaka.
Ms Siddiqui said: "They said that the search was part of the security arrangements prior to Independence Day on August 15. We are respected citizens of our country and such an act is not behoving of the Indian government."
Journalist and human rights activist Kuldip Nayar has strongly objected to the "shameful" incident and has decided to draw the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union home minister Shivraj Patil. "Suddenly society seems to have changed for the worse as we see the rights of an individual being violated openly. All the members are highly respected personalities who have worked hard to bridge the gap between the South Asian countries. This is a shameful act which needs to be condemned," said Mr Nayar.
http://www.asianage.com/
New Delhi, Aug. 2: Prominent Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir, was shocked to find Delhi police officials searching her hotel rooms in south Delhi without a warrant, and apparently without a valid reason.
Ms Asma Jehangir, who sounded disturbed while narrating the incident, said, "We had checked into La Sagrita hotel in Sunder Nagar at around 6 pm on Monday. A few minutes later, two Delhi police officials barged into our rooms and started frisking our luggage. Surprisingly, there was no woman police constable with them. The incident has left us in a bitter mood. I am still unable to fathom why the Indian government has suspected our visit."
Ms Jehangir’s association with India goes back three decades and as a human rights activist she commands immense respect, admiration and affection in the Indian subcontinent. In all these years, she has faced no such humiliation. The incident has occurred despite the government’s engagement with Pakistan in a peace process.
The delegation is on a four-day visit to discuss rights violations issues in South Asian countries. Recalling the incident, she said the police official, whose nameplate read Kishan Kumar, thoroughly searched her room and the rooms of other four delegates — Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrfahim, a Pakistan high court judge; I.B.N. Abdur Rehman, Nepal activist Mohammadi Siddiqui and Sri Lanka activist Shiranthi Jayatilaka.
Ms Siddiqui said: "They said that the search was part of the security arrangements prior to Independence Day on August 15. We are respected citizens of our country and such an act is not behoving of the Indian government."
Journalist and human rights activist Kuldip Nayar has strongly objected to the "shameful" incident and has decided to draw the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union home minister Shivraj Patil. "Suddenly society seems to have changed for the worse as we see the rights of an individual being violated openly. All the members are highly respected personalities who have worked hard to bridge the gap between the South Asian countries. This is a shameful act which needs to be condemned," said Mr Nayar.
http://www.asianage.com/
