Free Kashmir | PAKISTAN – USA FREEDOM FORUM | Stop Dividing |
PRESS RELEASE/STATEMENT
From front of the White House, July 28, 2008
Today we are standing in front of the White House as the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani is meeting with the President of the United States of America Mr. George W. Bush. We have very high expectations for a positive outcome from this dialogue between two leaders for the world peace and betterment of Pakistani people as well as Pakistanis living in the USA. We wish for the success of this meeting.
Mr. Gilani as well as Mr. Javed Hashmi spent several years in jail under the dictatorship of retired General Musharraf, who was supported by the United States and Western powers for nine years. They never went into self-exile and they never made a deal with the dictator Musharraf, guaranteed by the Western powers. They made us proud for their stand on principles just like the founder of Pakistan Quaid–e-Azim Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Since 9/11 Pakistanis living in America have paid a heavy price. Thousand were arrested and put in jails. Women and children were left alone to survive without any support or financial help. Thousands of men were deported without due legal process and permanently separated from their wives and children. Their civil liberties were repeatedly violated by racial profiling, intimidation and harassment. They have suffered a lot for the past several years. We hope Mr. Gilani’s meeting will give them a new hope for better future.
Since independence Pakistan has been a friend of the United States. Pakistan always supported USA on almost every international platform. It helped US in establishing relations with China. Early on, Pakistan joined SEATO and CENTO, considering them defensive pacts. Currently it is supporting their war against terrorism and paying a heavy price for this support. Therefore, we request Mr. Gilani to converse with President Bush as a head of a sovereign country not as a slave. You must explain to Mr. Bush that this is his last chance to solve the Palestinian, Chechnya, and Kashmir problems. He should withdraw US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. He should find a solution to Afghanistan war through dialogue and economic development rather than bombs. He should unequivocally respect Pakistani sovereignty, stop violations of Pakistani airspace and cross-border bombings from Afghanistan. He must not attack other sovereign nations like Iran or put sanctions on them. You must tell Mr. Bush that Pakistan will not be used as a launching pad against Iran and concern of the region for the U.S. selling atomic energy to India. Pakistani land must be free of foreign troops (and air bases).
Mr. Gilani should persuade President Bush to increase the number of visas for Pakistani students seeking higher education, women and minorities, people from the tribal areas and labor leaders who want to come to USA. Bush should increase civilian aid to help people rather than military generals. He should legalize Pakistanis and other immigrants living in the U.S. and allow them to work here. He should not deport Pakistanis. He should allow their families to join them in USA. He should give relief to Pakistan from debt. Mr. Bush must be asked to stop supporting militarized Presidency and refrain from renditions and torture of Pakistanis and citizens of other countries.
Just like Pervez Musharraf the policies of Mr. Bush for the last 8 years, both at home and abroad, have been a total failure, which has hurt the prestige of the USA around the world and among its own people. Mr. Bush should be asked to end wars abroad, stop trying to impose his personal “democracy” and respect UN charters and international treaties, clear the debts imposed by the IMF on Pakistan and other poor countries, respect civil liberties, respect sovereignty of other nations and stop adventurism into other countries. He should be reminded to stop raids and deportations of people in America, stop warrantless wiretapping, help people to save their houses from foreclosures, work to reduce the high oil, food and health care costs, stop rampant police brutality and reconstruct the Gulf Coast so that the people scattered across the country can return to their homes.
We also call on PM Gilani to restore all former Judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry who stood up against Musharraf just the way you and Mr. Hashmi did. We request you to reject NRO deal with Musharraf. You must stop agencies from kidnapping people and selling them to the US for profit. All missing people must be released immediately. The prices of essential commodities must be brought down to an affordable level. The hoarders and smugglers must be punished. Shaukat Aziz and his cronies must be tried in an open court. The Baluchistan problem should be solved through dialogue. Military action must be stopped as it has not solved the problem and it never will. The press must be allowed full freedom.
Dr. Muhammad Shafique, President Mr. Shahid Comrade, General Secretary
917-280-0840
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