GLOBAL PETITION FOR DUE PROCESS, JUDICIAL REVIEW AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Ensure Due Process and Fundamental Rights for Aleema Khan, Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi

Launched by:

Abdul Waheed Khan Alyani

International Human Rights Activist & Global Peace Ambassador
Initiator and Launcher of this Global Petition

To:

Government of Pakistan                                      Government of Punjab.                                        President of Pakistan                                Prime Minister of Pakistan                      Chief Minister of Punjab                        Lahore High Court and other Competent Courts                                                              National Commission for Human Rights, Pakistan                                                            United Nations Human Rights Watch           UN Diplomatic Missions            International Human-Rights and Civil-Society Organizations

THE PETITION

We, the undersigned citizens of Pakistan and members of the international community, respectfully call upon the competent authorities to ensure due process, transparency, judicial review, legal representation, humane treatment and protection of fundamental rights concerning the detention of Aleema Khan, Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, sisters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to reports dated Septembe, Aleema Khan was detained in Lahore for 30 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order framework. Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were subsequently also detained for 30 days under the same framework. 

The detention orders concerning the three women have been challenged before the Lahore High Court, with the legal challenge raising questions concerning the grounds and procedures underlying the orders. These matters remain for the competent judiciary to determine. 

We recognize the State's legitimate responsibility to protect public safety and public order. However, the exercise of state authority must remain subject to law, due process, proportionality, transparency and effective judicial oversight.

WE THEREFORE CALL FOR:

1. Immediate and meaningful judicial review
The detention orders should be urgently examined by the competent courts to determine their legality and procedural validity.

2. Access to legal counsel
Each detainee should have prompt and effective access to qualified legal representation and all remedies available under Pakistani law.

3. Family access and information
Their families and legal representatives should be informed of their whereabouts and provided appropriate communication and access in accordance with law.

4. Protection of safety and dignity
Aleema Khan, Dr. Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi should be treated humanely, with full respect for their safety, dignity and fundamental rights.

5. Transparency
The legal grounds for detention, relevant orders, place of detention and available mechanisms for challenge should be communicated through appropriate legal channels.

6. Independent human-rights attention
Relevant Pakistani human-rights institutions and, where appropriate, international human-rights mechanisms should monitor developments and encourage compliance with due-process standards.

7. Peaceful civic participation
Any restrictions on peaceful political expression, assembly or association should be lawful, necessary and proportionate and remain subject to judicial review.

8. Release where there is no lawful basis
Where a competent court or lawful authority determines that continued detention is not legally justified, the appropriate legal remedy, including release, should follow without unnecessary delay.

OUR APPEAL TO PAKISTAN

We respectfully appeal to the Government of Pakistan, provincial authorities and the judiciary to demonstrate that:

The Constitution protects everyone.
The law applies to everyone.
Due process belongs to everyone.
Human dignity belongs to everyone.

This petition does not ask the courts to prejudge any allegation or interfere with a lawful proceeding.

It asks only that every detention be subject to law, transparency and meaningful judicial scrutiny.

OUR APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND GLOBAL HUMAN-RIGHTS COMMUNITY

We respectfully request relevant UN human-rights mechanisms, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and relevant Special Procedures, together with international and regional human-rights organizations, to take note of developments within their respective mandates and encourage respect for due process, fundamental rights and human dignity.

We also call upon international civil society, legal networks, women's-rights organizations and diplomatic missions to peacefully monitor the situation and encourage a lawful and transparent resolution.

A PEACEFUL GLOBAL APPEAL

This petition is not a call for confrontation, violence or unlawful action.

It is a peaceful appeal for:

Justice

Due Process

Rule of Law

Human Rights

Judicial Review

Human Dignity

Political differences should be addressed through constitutional institutions, courts, democratic processes, dialogue and peaceful civic participation.

OUR GLOBAL CALL

We respectfully urge the competent authorities to:

REVIEW THE DETENTIONS.
ENSURE ACCESS TO COUNSEL AND FAMILY.
PROTECT THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF THE THREE WOMEN.
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND DUE PROCESS.
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL REVIEW.
AND, WHERE THERE IS NO LAWFUL BASIS FOR CONTINUED DETENTION, PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE LEGAL REMEDY, INCLUDING RELEASE.

LET JUSTICE SPEAK.

LET THE LAW PREVAIL.
PROTECT HUMAN DIGNITY.
ENSURE DUE PROCESS.

Sign • Share • Support Peacefully

Petition Initiatiator

Abdul Waheed Khan Alyani

International Human Rights Activist & Global Peace Ambassador

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