Last week, some Pakistanis in New York hosted a dinner for a few esteemed guests from their homeland. A very good friend, who is an editor of a respected newspaper, flew off the handle, insisting our guests were Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents. The argument escalated until we were completely unable to enjoy the company of our guests. Just as mentioning CIA occasionally evokes images of global conspiracy and the KGB calls gulags to mind, the ISI has come to represent political deceit in Pakistan.
Ask anyone to name their reasons for despising the ISI and you will receive vague responses reflective of hatred rather than understanding. Every state apparatus requires intelligence agencies, and Pakistan is no different. There are actually three-well known intelligence agencies in Pakistan: Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence (MI), and ISI. There are 26 intelligence agencies in the US. Somehow, the ISI and the CIA are the two that are most demonized.
The turmoil in Pakistan’s past has led to censure of the ISI. A visible feature of the ISI’s history that has done great damage to its reputation is the continual deterioration of civilian institutions due to multiple military coups. Despite some improvements in civil-military relations in recent years, the army remains a dominant actor in Pakistan’s political makeup.
Previous abuses of power should put intelligence reform at the top of the agenda for change. Before Pakistan can continue its democratic transition, these changes must be addressed. It seems some corrections to the system have already been made; ISI has recently demonstrated a previously unseen forthrightness with both local and international media.
Although reform to intelligence agencies will be difficult, the good news is that with patience, resolve, and international assistance, Pakistan’s government can indeed reassert civilian control over the intelligence community. Luckily for Pakistan, there are predecessors to take notes from. Indonesia and Chile have both undergone transformations in the intelligence arena and have plenty to offer Pakistan by way of example.
I wanted to know something of my friend who suspected our guests of being ISI agents: What did he think could be done to reform the intelligence agency? I was not surprised when he was unable to provide any coherent prescription. I find critics of the ISI to be a dime a dozen; if I had a penny for every time I heard someone criticize the ISI, I would be a millionaire. Yet none of these critics can give any recommendations to improve the situation.
In fact, the international community continues to blame Pakistan’s problems on the ISI, but still maintains working relations with the agency. Often, these relations undermine the democratic government and vindicate the very intelligence actors that need to be controlled. This double standard can be avoided by direct involvement with the Pakistani government, rather than going through intelligence services.
Pakistan’s government must reinforce the separation between civilian and military intelligence agencies. The integration of former ISI agents into other civilian bodies, particularly the IB, should be limited or stopped. Cross-recruitment prevents organizations from becoming independent.
Pakistan also needs to strengthen the police force. A better-trained and better-equipped police force can do a better job of counterterrorism, which work is currently exploited by the intelligence agencies to legitimize their control over politics in Pakistan.
US Secretary of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano recently visited Pakistan, and told us in New York last week that the US government is prepared to help develop Pakistan’s law enforcement infrastructure. From training police to setting up point-of-entries at Pakistan-Afghanistan borders, the US can help Pakistan using its experience regulating the US-Mexico border. Interestingly, every year there are several officers from the Pakistani army who train in American institutions, but no Pakistani police officer is coached by American counterparts. While army officers should continue to go to the US for training, it would be highly beneficial for Pakistan to invest in its law enforcement agencies in this manner as well.
Ignoring the urgent need to establish supremacy over the intelligence community would be a grave mistake on the part of Pakistan’s civilian government. Reducing the role of the military in the intelligence sector will allow the government to consolidate itself domestically, so it should be a top priority. In addition, government control over military and intelligence will cast a positive light on the state of Pakistan’s emerging democracy, and will improve international opinions of Pakistan.
In saying all this, though, we must remember not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Like any other state, Pakistan needs a strong defense system. Pakistan’s army is its most disciplined institution and employs over 500,000 people, and its military is Pakistan’s best protection at its borders. Calling for military and intelligence reform should not be confused with anti-nationalism; we must always remember the sacrifices of those foot soldiers who valiantly put their lives on the line for their nations’ security.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
though your article is insightful, but then again, lets not forget the political arena of the country has long been corrupt and the first thing which comes to one’s mind when one thinks of current government, is THIEF and MURDERER!!
in this respect, putting ISI in civilian control would do nothing more then even further harm the safety of the country…
being under political control ISI would lose its effectiveness and heance the wall of safeguard of people living here in Pakistan will come in hell lot of danger…
I respect your views but before writing something its better that you ask someone about their views about the country then discussing it over dinner with some one who only knows what he reads and sees on international media…
August 11th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
IAM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHY PAKISTANIS WHO R SITTING N USA OR ANY EUOROPEAN COUNTRY,WHO MAY KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT PAKSITAN,WANT TO BRING CHANGES N PAKISTAN.
WHY THEY HAVE TOUNGES OF USA IN THEIR MOUTHS?
WHY THE WORLD IS SO MUCH CARING ABOUT ISI?HAS ANY ONE SUJJESTED THAT CIA,FBI,MOSSAD,RAW SHOULD ALSO BE CONTROLED OR NEED A MAKE OVER.
ACTUALLY THE WORLD IS SO MUCH AFRAID OF ISI,BCOZ IT IS A BIG HURDLE IN COMPLETING THE NEFARIUOS WISHES OF USA AND OTHER SO CALLED FRIENDS OF PAKSITAN.AND OTHER THEN THERE THIS IS NO PROBLEM FOR THE WORLD.
IAM A PAKISTANI-LIVING N PAKISTAN-SAY WE DO NOT NEED ANY ADVISES FROM THE WORLD THAT WHAT WE NEED OR NOT,SO PLZ STOP ADVISING US,MY MESSAGE IS ALSO FOR THE AUTHOR(SO CALLED PAKISTANI) OF THIS ARTICLE.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I admire your work BUT I think that ISI shall never be controlled by civilian Govt. Reason is very simple a Govt. slave of IMF can do nothing.
The root problem is the mentality of our general public. They don’t vote for the right person infact they dont have any right person to vote for. I am a student of graduation and 99% of my fellows have never voted. Because the top thieves and looters of the society are the persons for whom we r supposed to vote.
Come to ground realities plz….
August 11th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Perhaps I know ISI much more than yourself. I am convinced to tell you that Officers (both civilian and armed forces) are united on the subject. And their answer is never to fall directly in hands of a corrupt, foreign supported, puppet and imposed leadership. ISI cannot be an earning instrument for such leadership.
Another piece of advice for you; do not speculate about organizations, people and individuals, whom you do not even know. Your article is mostly based on speculations. I would like to enlighten your mind with one thing about ISI. This organization is being commanded by a number of serving General of Pakistan army. Now, general are under command of GHQ as they are serving. And as everyone knows Chief of Army Staff works with Parliament’s approval on National/Security Issues. So, this should be clear to you that ultimately it is the Pakistani Parliament, which is controlling the ISI.
Above in view it is expected from you to meet someone who actually knows ISI and then write about it. Secondly, no one has the right to decide the fate of various departments of Pakistan Government. Especially the people, who are not conversant with our culture, traditions and environment.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
i read your whole article and the whole article focuses more on reforming and bringing Army & ISI in civilian control. which is good but in ideal circumstances. have you ever asked what people working at intelligence agencies and army think about the current situation. these two are the only institutions who safeguarding Pakistan. no civil institution is not performing its duty with honesty and full commitment.
our government, police, so-called free judiciary are all corrupt. our rulers themselves involve generals and intelligence in politics and use them against their opponents. so in such circumstances how you expect form ISI and Army to remain unbiased??? and most importantly if they are doing work Bhal siphai(cleaning canals), meter checking by a fauji jawan, law & order within cities. if they are doing all the work and government employees are only getting salaries.you people only criticize them but from their side they are bound by rules and don’t answer such unfair allegations. lets first reform government, judiciary, bureaucracy, police and politicians and then think of reforming least dishonest and corrupt institutions and putting them under corrupt administration. i hope you won’t
August 11th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
With due respect, as a true pakistani, i believe that its the Armed forces of pakistan and the great intelligence agencies of our motherland, that Pakistan is standing tall and we all fell safe.
If you give these agencies into the hands of Civilians, which every1 knows what civilian will mean here, Corrupt people with the agenda of destroying our land then like Pervaiz Musharraf said in his last speech, PAKISTAN KA ALLAH HI HAFIZ.
Khuda ke wastay, kuch akal ki baat karo yaar!
August 11th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I dont want to see our forces blocking the roads for stupid politicians. (VIP movements). cant you see hundreads of poor law inforcement ppl standing on roads for hours and hours with no water no food in the bare heat waiting for CRI****S to pass…
LORD help our nation…
August 11th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
salam,
Read you article and really appreciate the face that you are trying to advertise your idea and thoughts for the greater good.
But don’t you think by doing this, this would create more problems for us…our govt is not capable of handling a small issue, where as over here ISI and institute has to step in in the end to resolve big and small issues.
And plus US it self is controlled by there intelligences.
Regards
Danish Elahi
August 12th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Yeah. Right said Shahzad you just cant trust Zardari Government.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:39 am
I second Shazad. You are absolutely right. ISI should not be given under control of the CIVILIAN government as current government and almost all the past civilian governments were …………. You better know what i am trying to say …
August 12th, 2009 at 3:33 am
We have to remember that the biggest reason for Pakistan not having proper democracy and wide corruption is because the army never let the country develop its democratic system. It takes, time, effort, trial and error for anything to work.
Its been decades since there was ever a democratically elected party which completed its term (does not include mushrraff era)
Lets remember if the politicians are corrupt then so are our army generals who are easily bought by money, just because they wear a uniform doesnt mean they are loyal. Everyone knows how top generals use their power and how corrupt they really are, using the low level hard working army ‘jawans’ to their advantage.
BUt then again, i do not like when a politician supports democracy. Politicians, just like the army, are only interested in governing Pakistan for their own interest, getting free security, free housing, and loads of Government funding to eat from.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:35 am
lets not forget ISI remains the first line of defence for the integrity and exixstance of this boundried land which is humbled by extreme internal as well as external threats due to unusual geo-political location, powerful enemy and complex cultural differences of diverse sectorial or multi-ethnic populace that is emotional and religious.
Yet it is widely being felt now that ISI is only but weakened by its misuse by elements for political spy-games.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:36 am
ISI is Eyes and Ears of Nation.
Governments are volatile, ISI is Rock Solid.
Any attempt to suppress ISI would lead to make enemies happy.
I strongly condemn this article.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:39 am
this is just not good, criticising our own people who give everything for our saftey THE ISI
why is this arguement on the world’s media about ISI and our nuclear programme? WHY???
it should totally be banned!!
pakistan is ISI and ISI is pakistan!
these civilian govts. the corrupts,the thiefs.u mean, to give ISI under their control? i am sorry dear u really need to think again
August 12th, 2009 at 4:05 am
hmmm.. you depicted the article very well but the facts and figures says something else… as far as current civilian govt is concerned; they neither respectable people nor efficient to take control o state intelligence and secure a country from the enemy across the border.. though i am not from military background but what i have conceived fromthe current scenario, the govt is amateur… it will be huge risk in order to give up the power to incompetent people…!!!!
this is all from my side…
August 12th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Woow…Thats the spirit of our people…i am agree and salute to every one who are against the control of ISI under political Govt….ISI is not only the agency, ISI is the threat for enemies of Pakistan. Not only ISI but our army is the best in the world. Our army and ISI is only force in the world which is totally volunteer force. They are giving everything, life—time—families—hardships—-difficulties—for defense of Pakistan…
Ask yourself what you are doing for Pakistan…just giving remarks…Come and do something practical for Pakistan than criticize others…
I am proud of my forces and ISI–MI
August 12th, 2009 at 5:38 am
Blaming ISI is in fashion with most of the people. Lets not point finger towards both politicians and the military janta for a while, what do we see. A nation which does little hard work but it demands are endless. Free education, Free treatment and many more things but on ground we hardly contribute anything. We want to fill our banks with money and inflate our personal bank accounts but we want the government to spend more and more on us. A nation approaching 170 million of population has less then 1.3 million tax payers. We make hue and cry about the loss of government writ in the tribal areas but what about the rest of the country, do we have any governance there or any writ of the government, The answer is a Big NO. 100% citizens of Pakistan are doing what they want to do, uncontrolled or unregulated businesses without any regard for any regulatory laws.
Political Parties are crowded by few families, and these families are ruling at least three provinces out of four if not all of them. So undemocratic political parties are claiming as the champions of democracy.
Pakistan Army is the only institution which is standing tall on its own, Pakistan army has defeated Taliban with in four months since the lauch of their decisive battle is swat and else where. ISI has played a key role in the success.
Isreal, India, America and Germany all have military adventures as part of their history to protect their interests. ISI must keep on working the way it has been doing. As a Pakistani we all must support our only viable institution.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Shahzad is right, a wise man said! when ur enemy dislikes you it means you r doing right and if they likes you, that means you are doing wrong.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Good to see that even being ignorant , most of usvote in favour of ISI and Pak. US and its allies always hit the bull . Why such propagations dont appear against other int agencies. Simply because of western ethnic prejudice against muslims in general and Pak(nuclear) in particular. Why to learn from Indonesia and Chile why not to get lessons from CIA. Does CIA work through the bounds being suggested for ISI ??? NO not at all … So is true for RAW, MUSSAD, KGB and others ….. !
IGNORANCE is blessing . All anti ISI actors hate its role because it does not submit to their demands…. its jut prejudice nothing else and rather another acceptance for the elegance of our agencies…. !!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:07 am
what u want ISI under Mr Zardari ( Mr. 10%) . We dont want to see ISI being wrecked like other institutions of Pakistan .
August 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
ISI is the first line of defence of our country, its the Eyes and Ears of our Nation. and I think we can not let it come under the control of our civilian government putting ISI in civilian control would harm the safety of the country. ISI is doing a great job being as it is. If any one wants they should try and restructure the RAW, CIA, FBI & MUSSAD not the ISI. If ISI had not been there god knows what would have happend to Pakistan. So long live ISI and Pakistan both Zindabad
August 12th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Ibrahim Sb- very good article. I admire your courage to write the truth. It is high time that Pakistani people control our agencies, and politicians. Don’t get intimidated by these ISI bloggers and keep on exposing the truth.
For those who have not read it complete may i suggest you use dictionary and re-read before commenting.
“In saying all this, though, we must remember not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Like any other state, Pakistan needs a strong defense system. Pakistan’s army is its most disciplined institution and employs over 500,000 people, and its military is Pakistan’s best protection at its borders. Calling for military and intelligence reform should not be confused with anti-nationalism; we must always remember the sacrifices of those foot soldiers who valiantly put their lives on the line for their nations’ security.”
August 12th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Finally someone has the courage to speak the truth. Majority of Pakistanis know that ISI must be reigned in. Otherwise we will continue to live in the shadows of tyranny. Democracy is the awnser to all our ills. Even in our politicians are corrupt- they are atleast people that we elect. Like Hamid Mir said in his recent article- even a weak and corrupt democracy is better than miliary rule.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:03 am
This article is no more than a piece of shit and the person who wrote is no more than a creep.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:36 am
I agree that isi must be under the control of civil government but not under clawns ,,, if isi is under zardaris, sharifs , walis, altafs, shujaats and whole bunch of jokers they will sell the country and fill their pocket and run away from here ,, its the isi who has kept us together and has saved us by the grace of God ,, and i hope that their activities r more positive rather than thinking of governing the country ,,,,,,,,,
August 12th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Dear Ibrahim Sajid Malick
You have started a debate vital to democracy in Pakistan. If Pakistan has to survive peacefully, rule of law must be implemented. Military must obey the constitution and ISI should be run under the civilian rule. Pakistan’s integrity and security has been the excuse to subjugate Pakistanis under subsequent despotic autocracy. Sovereignty of civilian rule and imposition of law and order emanating from representative institutions put in place with a public mandate is the only way forward. Congratulations for pioneering a very important national discourse.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Fatal Error !!!!!!! by this infant democratic political setup
, just wait and see Politicians are once again testing the defenders nerves.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Very well written column. I agree 100%. ISI goons should be exposed and tried under the court of law. They must explain where did all the pakistanis disappear? Who kidnapped Dr.Afia Siddiqui and her kids? a true patriotic pakistani must be willing to address this question open and clearly.
I congratulate the author for his courage and admire his style. He has asked for change but not maligned our armed services.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Malick sahab- you have been warned – phir na kahna hamay pata na tha why the hell are you pushing indian and american line? you must explain you piece shit. come to aab para and i will show you who rules.
August 12th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
murad ali- who are you? why are you threatening a journalist? I know you don’t work for ISI because ISI will never do such a thing. So please drop that discussion of aab para and move on.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Lame thread….. totally useless
August 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
ISI if gets controlled by the present government……..then i think perhaps all the 10000 men of isi will be replaced by so called “JIYALAS” of Zardari,like they are doing in every other government department and ruining it completely.I think all those who have written against government control of ISI would have said other wise if the politicians and rulers in the government were sincere and honest.And i like all other Pakistanis will anxiously wait what this democracy will give us after 5 years.
But nevertheless ISI should not involve itself in things like “missing persons” cases that are coming to light nowadays.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Mr who ever you are affiliated with , that person is not a friend or die hard Pakistani who wants to dismantle the ISI , what you are suggesting in your article is what the cia and the raw and mosaad wants so please tell your bosses to get a life and ISI will never come under there control through there agents in the federal government .
August 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
And as mustafa kamal said i totally agree with him on this point that such questions should be asked openly that who kidnapped hundereds of pakistanis.And those who committed these things should be tried under the Court of the law.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Well said Murad Ali… Jeetay Raho
August 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Do you know that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the so-called civilian, democratic leader, brought the ISI into politics to serve his political interests? It was ZAB who issued the executive order creating a political cell within the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) with the purpose of influencing political processes in Pakistan? This fateful decision in 1975 eventually brought ZA Bhutto’s own downfall when he used this cell to unnecessarily rig the 1977 elections and was overthrown and executed by General Zia-ul-Haq. It was also this cell that helped Nawaz Sharif , a protege of General Zia-ul-Haq, get elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan after the General’s death in a mysterious air crash followed by a brief term in office by Benazir Bhutto. In 1990 the ISI received 140m rupees (US$2.2m at current values) to rig national elections, according to supreme court testimony by the then chief of army staff, General Mirza Aslam Beg.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
FACT: Pakistan has an ISI problem – the country’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency pursues its own agenda for its own reasons. And civilian leaders have been too hesitant to challenge it.
SOLUTION: Make ISI anwserable to the people of Pakistan.
PROBLEM: Politicians are too corrupt.
RESPONSE: Military is no angel. ISI is not only corrupt but also criminal.
We have a problem. We must solve it.
Mr. Malick- don’t let these ISI agents intimidate you.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
The ISI operates under its own definition of Pakistan’s national interest -and bloggers here are acting whimsically as well.
And for all of you patriots- ISI has received plenty of outside help. In the 1980s, the CIA cooperated with the ISI and Saudi intelligence in funding, training, and arming Afghan and foreign guerrillas to fight the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
So stop claiming that ISI is not an extension of CIA- it is American’s pupet. They kidnapped so many Pakistanis and handed them over to CIA. Did they not? Is that Pakistan’s national interest?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i feel pitty on the writer but i feel very happy reading the comments
so, i think knowledgeable writer is unaware of the fact that america himself is not under democratic rule rather under the control of FBI CIA and pentagon., so how can u expect to leave our intelligence agency at the mercy of bussinessmen (politicians).
August 12th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Mr. Ibrahim Sajid Malick- you are a step a ahead of the game. Pakistan’s leading daily, The News just reported Pakistan has decided to restructure ISI, to make it more efficient and vibrant.
“The effort that is already underway would bring energetic and more dedicated personnel into the fold of the agency who could live up to the challenges of the modern age,” The News said.
As part of the effort, 32 officers of the rank of brigadier and colonel have been retired “and it is expected that other officers who have not proved their utility would be shown the door further down the line in the months to come”, the newspaper said.
The agency is also being trimmed in the manner the army was restructured three years ago without compromising its operational capabilities.
Well placed sources in the defence ministry told The News that the ISI had expanded in recent years out of proportion, especially because officers who on the verge of superannuation joined the agency and subsequently managed to stay on.
“The practice expanded the agency in terms of numbers without enhancing its tangible capacity,” the sources said.
Thus various departments of the agency were asked for a status report on officers who had attained the age of superannuation but were still working with it but without putting in anything useful. Since such officers were a burden on the organisation, it was decided they should be asked to immediately leave, the sources added.
The retrenchment process will continue for at least two more years.
———–
So I get your game- you actually work for ISI and float this article before anything happens and to demonstrate that people don’t like it. Fuck you..
August 12th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
ANYONE FROM ISI READING THIS- PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU TO TELL US ABOUT ZAMIR ANSARI FAMILY. PLease!
——————————————————
On 1 May 1996, Zamir Hasan Ansari, a retired section officer of the Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs, “disappeared” from his home in Islamabad, along with his wife Feroza Khanom and their two grown-up children, Riffat Anjum and Anjum Kamal. There whereabouts since that time remain unknown. Available evidence clearly indicate that the family was detained by ISI. Zamir Hasan Ansaris was stationed in New Delhi between 1985 and 1990 whilst working for the Pakistan foreign service – which possibly aroused suspicion.
The four family members went missing from their home between 2:30 and 5:00pm on 1 May. A friend had spoken to them on the telephone at 2:30, but there was no reply to a caller who telephoned at 5:00pm. The family were expected at a dinner engagement that evening but did not arrive. Subsequent inquiries revealed that they had not informed relatives, friends or neighbours about any intention to leave the city that day.
On 8 May, police and concerned relatives entered the family’s house and found it empty with almost everything intact. No locks had been broken and there were no visible signs of a struggle. It appeared as though the family had been disturbed in the middle of a meal as there were remains of food on the table. Although some expensive items such as a video recorder were missing, money and jewellery which were openly displayed had not been taken.
Tariq Hasan, the second son of Zamir Hasan Ansari who had been living in the United States when his family “disappeared”, returned to Pakistan to look for them. He received unofficial acknowledgement from several people in positions of authority that the family was in the custody of the ISI. On 7 June he filed a First Information Report with the police claiming that his family had been abducted. He also filed a habeas corpus petition in the Lahore High Court in which he named the police and ISI as respondents. However, despite ten hearings of the petition the fate or whereabouts of the Ansari family have not been established. All the respondents named in the habeas corpus petition denied any knowledge of the family’s whereabouts and the police who were ordered to investigate the case reported no progress in their investigations. The lastest hearing in the petition was in September 1996. No date was set for a further hearing. The court apparently requested the investigating police officer to inform the court once the family had been located so that the petition could be taken up again.
Following Tariq Hasans effort’s to publicise the “disappearance” of his family and to put pressure on the authorities to reveal their fate or whereabouts, he received threats from a number of officials that his own life and that of his family could be at risk because of the action he had taken. He was told to keep a low profile. One police officer reportedly told Tariq Hasan that it was a mistake to bring the case to the attention of Amnesty International which could do nothing more than send appeals, and that Tariq Hasan would eventually be left on his own but in a worse situation than before.
Amnesty International has repeatedly expressed concern to the Government of Pakistan about the reported “disappearance” of the Ansari family and has appealed to the authorities on numerous occasions to make known the family’s whereabouts as a matter of urgency should they be detained by any agency of the state. The Human Rights Ministry of Pakistan responded to Amnesty International on 3 November saying that the “disappearance” of the Ansari family was a matter of grave concern to the Government of Pakistan.The Ministry reported making enquiries about the whereabouts of the family with the different security agencies in Pakistan, but without any success. The letter said the security agencies have been directed “to step up their efforts to locate the missing family”.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
MURAD YOUR COMMENT IS SHAMEFUL. YOU THINK YOU CAN INTIMIDATE PEOPLE? THIS IS HOW ISI GETS BAD NAME. PEOPLE LIKE YOU DESTROY PAKISTAN ARMY PRIDE AND NAME. I AM SUGGESTING THAT YOU READ THIS ARTICLE AGAIN.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
harami indian agent- mosad agent- mather faker
August 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
ISI (army) the only barrier between the safety of Pakistan (rest of the half). Others are afraid of ISI (army) capabilities.
Main target is bring Pakistan down, they can’t do it unless ISI (Army) safeguarding Pakistan. They have change their tactics and started criticizing ISI (indirectly Pakistan Army), bringing this wall down Pakistan will come down as USSR.
(read two books from ex ISI operative, books name GHAZI & JANBAZ)
August 12th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
A Chinese think tank analyst is arguing that a fragmented India would be in China’s best interest, and would also lead to prosperity in the region. The report proposes dividing the country into thirty independent states.
A lot is being written about the fact that US is developing a close alliance with India as part of the American strategy to counter the growing Chinese influence in Asia and the rest of the world. In addition to the burgeoning nuclear cooperation worth many billions of dollars, there is a multi-billion dollar US arms sale deal with India expected in the near future.
All of this is adding to the Chinese anxiety and their strategizig about how to deal with a militaristic India (and its ongoing massive arms buildup) backed by the US on its borders.
One way China can counter the threat is by undermining India’s unity and integrity as a nation from within to keep it pre-occupied with multiple insurgencies, similar to the strategy India has been pursuing in Pakistan since the 1960s. First in Bangladesh, then by pressure on Pakistan through Afghanistan (and revival of the Durand discussion), and now the re-invigorated Baloch insurgency and a concerted Indian campaign against Pakistani military and the ISI inside Pakistan.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Mr. Riaz Haq
Expansionist designs of states to break other states do not help progress. You have rightly quoted the example of Indian efforts to undermine the territorial integrity and solidarity of Pakistan. Did this conflict help progress in India or Pakistan? India spends huge amounts of money on defence while its citizens suffer. Far flung states like Assam have not seen any development in 63 years. You could see similar situation in Pakistan. Most of Baluchistan, NWFP, Sindh or Punjab have yet to see any sign of development since the British built the railroads. Pakistan has been doubly jeopardised by sacrificing democracy to autocratic military regimes. Sovereignty of civilian rule over hitherto above the law military and ISI and the demand for the rights to the resources of Baluchistan by the people of that province sound like an Indian conspiracy to you but those are problems that must be addressed urgently. If India fears expansionist designs they must address the problems of far flung, neglected states and poverty. Poor, hungry masses have always been a reason for instability of states besides intruding neighbours. Setting your own house in order by empowering the people through democracy and upholding supremacy of the law could go a long way in defending territorial boundaries and preserving solidarity.
Respect. Peace.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Mr. Murad, I do have respect for your patriotism; however, you need to be careful yourself. Please do not put a bad name to the Organization. You do not even belong to it; so do not pretend in this way.
Broken Man, Ansaris are just a myth. It is easier to cultivate stories, take covers and vanish. Especially when someone becomes an agent of a hostile agency. So as they say “Curiosity Kills The Cat”; it never happened. Because there was never the cat when time came. It found a hostile home and ultimately perished. The organization has nothing to do with there disappearance.
Coming on the subject; Mr. Sajid Malick seems a well trained and engineered expert of foreign agencies. And I am sure his intellect level revolves around Benjamin Franklin (the US Dollar Bill). The article has proved an emotional sabotage for patriot Pakistanis. An excellent propaganda of foreign wishes. It is easier to find his inclination in other articles, he wrote. In a nut-shell he is just a mouth organ of hostile agencies and their policies.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL PAKISTANIS
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
August 13th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
You can blame an institution or a system or reffering to another article on this site, the religion, and claim to have come up with an out of this world solution for all this………..as long as those very same ppl and their religion of corruption is there, nothings gonna change
August 14th, 2009 at 7:10 am
ISI is the protector of our country. After ofcourse Allah almighty.
As long as ISI and Pak Army remain intact in the current form our homeland is secure by the grace of Allah ofcourse.
Long Live Pak Army!
Long Live Pakistan!
August 15th, 2009 at 6:13 am
strongly disagree,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
August 15th, 2009 at 6:44 am
By the 1980s, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) supposed to be one of the many departments of the Pakistani army under leaderships of lieutenant generals Akhtar Usmani and Hamid Gul had transformed into most powerful center of power of Pakistan even by bringing own parent the army and the army generals under absolute control of ISI. Moreover, the ISI has unbreakable steel grip over entire administrative set-up of Pakistan since decades, may be some ministers may not have been under control of ISI but never the administration. That makes the ISI secrets remain secrets forever despite of real democratic parties forming the governments in Pakistan.
First time when Benazir Bhutto was to lead the country as Prime Minister, she was made to agree to the three main conditions by the then President who was very carefully planted puppet of Hamid Gul and ISI. First of the four conditions was not to interfere in military and ISI affairs, second, no enquiries of military and ISI expenditures and officials, third no attempts to curtail presidential powers to select and appoint supreme court judges and powers to dismiss elected governments. However, defying the agreement she insisted on transfer of powers to appoint judges from president to the prime minister, the President dismissed her from the premiership. Since then every prime minister and his council of ministers follow those conditions.
August 15th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Mohsin sahab- Ansaris are not a myth. They were REAL people. Just like me and you. Are they still alive? Please don’t sweep this under the rug.
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Long Live ISI, Long Live Pak Army, Long Live Pakistan
September 7th, 2009 at 6:29 am
ISI is an integral part of our first line of defense. However, their political wing needs to restrategies on helping the right set of people, that is if they still want to do it, to come into politics. Every party they have created or helped has ultimately tried to harm their interest, which could be the most fatal thing considering the importance of this organization for our national security.
Its unbeliveable that they can’t get a couple of thousand good people to the assembilies and senate.
Gentlmen in Khaki, come on think about it or leave it to the massess!!!!
Just focus on Unity Faith, Discipline, and simply ask yourself what our beloved Prophet (PBUH) would have done if he was in your shoes. Remember he had one of the best intelligence cell and yet no complaints
Long live Pakistan.
September 12th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
ISI and Armed forces of Pakistan are defense lines of Pakistan. Leaving the business people and feudal lords (who earns buckets of money) a side even a corporate employee earns more then the serving officer of ISI/Army (although army officers got some facilities to cope with but ISI guys dont) who remains on duty 24/7 whereas former one works only for 8-hours a day and earn a lot more then later one. Even then they keep on working with loyalty obviously with exception to some element.
Do the writer think that CIA is under full control of USA Government or RAW is under 100% control of Indian Government ? ? ? do the writer think that American policies are not consistent and changed with change in Government then he might be wrong. If policies are consistent then who is actual planner………sitting government or American Establishment ? ? ? Agencies operate in their own specific environment and promote thier country interest in reaction to the action carried out by other agencies in World. So if ISI do the same what’s problem with this guys ?
As world defined definitions that “Ruler are the Servant of Nation” and Armed Forces are Guards/Protector of nation. So what guard may do, once servant becomes disloyal and start looting the home of his owner (The People of country) ? ? ? He may sit quite or may intervene to protect the home of his owner (The People of country) ? ? ? Either threat is external, internal or from home servant (so called rulers) they have to counter the threat.
As for as displaced people are concerned those who play in the hands of foreign elements and work against the country they must be detained/displaced for greater interest of nation/country which involves security of more lives, but there must be some system to ensure that innocent may not be hunted by mistake.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:14 am
No body doubts the significance and importance of ISI and Army.
However, none of their strategy to fight internal enemies has worked out since their involvement in local politics. EverÝ player that they brought in to control the national politics has resulted in creating political parties which are now at their throats, biggest example are PML-N and the Talibans.
They need to realize that the war strategies are short term and working against enemies, whereas, political stategies are long-term and require working with people of integrity to establish rule of law
. With due respect, they have missed the target and as a result we are in a mess. Pakistan zindabad and pak army paindabad. May Allah guide us all to take pakistan towards a prosperous nation and country – Ameen
September 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am
broken man..i know tariq very well and he was here in india betwen 1985-1990 and he went to usa from here..do u have any contact of him ???
October 15th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Muhammad Saleem, I totally agree with u that if the rulersa r corrupt than the at one time protectors has to intervene. Use common sense, military people doesnt have there assets out of the country may be except few ppl so they have to stay in the country whatever happens. They also have famililies who also have to live alone coz of the posting setup so they are sincere in improving the condition of the country not like our corrupt politicians who will flee the country to stay in their houses abroad with the first sign of difficulty they will see for there survival.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:39 am
As for the failure of the policies of ISI, well see how USA is stuck in Iraq n Afghanistan. Do you think CIA, the most trained/equiped/with lots of finances foresee this all. If the Intelligence agencies can be so zero error thaqn russia should had a grip on Afghanistan, Mosad on Palistain, Raw on Pakistan. The fact i s that ISI is all alone fightinging the world for the country n the sad oart is that it includes its own rulers. Every agency in world has political wing, the pooint that they are not highlighted. like any rape case is highlighted in the media. Have you seen any rape news in US on media. or is there no rape in US. just think…. dont drop in the trp of western media, alwayz see both sides of the pic nad than make an opinion.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:22 am
Sir,
I read your article on reformation of ISI at another website. I was impressed with the way you had put forward your views. Kindly add me to your mailing list.
Rgds,
Sarwar
October 21st, 2009 at 7:49 am
Lets not blame ISI for the deficiencies and corruption of the politicians. Now the politicians have been confirmed as traitors also.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
This is my first time visiting your website. Had it not been for readers like Uzair, Mohammed Zia, Malik Rashid, Mustafa Kamal, Riaz Haq, Anis, Fakhar ud Din, Salim Rabbani, Salim Bugti and very civil Shabnam I would have withdrawn my request to be on your mailing list.
It is absolutely amazing how ill-informed, downright rude, uncouth and stupid some of your readers are. No wonder we are racing downhill as a nation. The adage where patriotism is termed as the last refuge of scoundrels sounds so true here.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I am grateful to Mr. Don Harkins the editor of THE IDAHO OBSERVER, (USA) and her associates Ms. Anne Wilder Chamberlain to help me prepare my story.
The following short note comes from them:-
Khalid Qayyum Awan
My name is Khalid Qayyum Awan. My rights have been eroded in the name of National Security. Since I am a Muslim, my story has been written, produced, directed, choreographed and stage-designed by the U.S. Government officials.
QUOTE FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLIN: “All men stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him a power.”
The Department of Justice and the FBI have been under pressure by the Bush Administration to find “terrorists” in this country and to preemptively convict them before they can strike at the U.S. Although there is good evidence that there are few, if any, potential terrorists in the Muslim communities of the United States, U.S. attorneys, who are not able to find any real “terrorists” target, prosecute and convict innocent Muslims on phony or inflated criminal charges in an unfair and discriminatory manner. They
do this to show they are politically “loyal to the president Bush “. These prosecutions have destroyed families and communities nationwide in a country that is renowned for its human rights activities around the world.
Background
I am a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan. I was born in 1962 in a small village, full of ancient history. I am the only son of my parents, and have three younger sisters. Throughout my life, my family was (and still is) very liberal, even while living in Pakistan. I studied in Catholic Christian Schools including St. Mary’s school in Rawalpindi, and the Cathedral School in Lahore, as well as the Foremen Christian College in Lahore. I received my Masters Degree in Political Science at the Pakistan University of Karachi. Throughout my academic life, I read the Bible every morning, at college assemblies and Noble Quran at home. I am one of the initial members of Pakistan Human Rights Commission, as a result of my belief in humanity and its equality, apart from any religion. Humanity is my first priority. Because of this, instead of strict religious belief and political stand, I left Pakistan and moved to Canada. I came to this continent in 1993 and became a Canadian citizen in 1996, where I worked as an immigration consultant and was a member of the Canadian Bar Association. As part of my business, I also had an office in New York, which is where I was on September 11, 2001.
October 2001
Soon after the September 11the event, the US government arrested me in my home in Garden City, NY, on October 25, 2001. They claimed they had received an anonymous tip that I had been seen with ‘Marwan Al-shehi’ who was purportedly one of the accused 9/11 hijackers” at my previous place of residence. The FBI was took my name from old lease papers by the apartment management office after receiving the call. Although I had no prior criminal history, five agents entered my house without knocking, yelled at me to drop whatever was in my hand or they would shoot me, and forced me to lie on the ground while they handcuffed me and stood on me.
I was taken in front of Southern District of New York Judge Michael Mukasey, (later became Attorney General of the US in Bush regime)). After a detailed investigation by the FBI and US Naval Intelligence, I was supposedly cleared of all charges. I was then put in front of a Grand Jury and after approximately four hours of continuous investigative questioning, I was cleared again and the case was dismissed in US Federal Court on November 05, 2001.
Charge # 2
Before I was released from custody, on November 05, 2001,on the same day on Nov 5, 2001 the US Government imposed new charges: “Conspiracy to Commit Fraud and Money Laundering”. They alleged that I stole/misused the identity profile of my clients, who come seeking my services for getting Canadian Visas and citizenship in the US, although there was not a single complaint from either any of my clients or any bank.
My lawyer, Steven K. Frankel, advised me verbally and in writing to plead guilty, telling me it was in my own best interests. He said, “Although it is not fair, Suffolk County (New York) juries and the courts view a case like this, (being a Muslim, and a native of Pakistan), these are not times in which you would receive any sympathy”. He said, had I not entered a guilty plea to this count, I would be “facing ten years on the money laundering account”.
As journalist and former Assistant Treasury Secretary Dr. Paul Craig Roberts states in his 12/11/06 column, “America’s Injustice System is Criminal:” The criminal justice system today consists of a process whereby a defendant is coerced into admitting to a crime in order to escape more severe punishment for maintaining his innocence. Many of the crimes for which people are imprisoned never occurred. They are made-up crimes created by the process of negotiation to close a case.
Every defense attorney knows that today prosecutors can purchase testimony against a defendant by paying a “witness” with money, dropping charges, or reduced time to testify against the defendant. Prosecutors routinely withhold exculpatory evidence and suborn perjury. Generally, jurors trust prosecutors and are unaware of their inventory of dirty tricks.
So since I had already served 17 months in detention, I pled guilty in Fatico Hearing (trial with judge and no jury), to $95,000 of fraud conspiracy, which carried a maximum sentence of 15 to 24 months. In my case, the plea agreement was not even honored. I was sentenced to five years, the sentence for approximately US$ 2.5 Million in credit card fraud “CONSPIRACY”, where neither actual complaint nor proof of loss exists.
Appeal to Canada
Finally sentenced and designated to Allenwood Federal Correction Institute in Pennsylvania, in January, 2005, I had fourteen months left. I decided not to appeal because if a case is in appeal, a defendant is not eligible to transfer back to his home country. Instead, I applied for a Treaty Transfer to Canada. Surprise! I learned from my case manager Ms. Hause that my citizenship was listed in the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (FBOP) computer as Pakistani instead of Canadian. All my Canadian documentation – passport, citizenship card, social insurance and health cards, and my Canadian drivers license –were in the possession of the FBI. Greatly concerned, I wrote the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, NY to request that they fix this problem so I could be transferred back to Canada. On March 30, 2005, the Canadian Consulate sent a letter to the jail to correct my citizenship status, but the FBOP ignored the request and did not correct the computer.
I realize now that FBOP intentionally left my citizenship status as Pakistani, making me ineligible to transfer to Canada so they could keep me at their prison facility while the government prepared to file new charges against me.
Finally on January 30, 2006, six weeks before my release date, I was transferred from Allenwood prison to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, NY, supposedly in preparation for my deportation back to Canada. I signed the immigration deportation papers, which incidentally, contained my correct citizenship status, with my FBOP Consular, Miss Chen. I found out later from the court papers that the Allenwood prison warden had been given a summons during January, 2006, requesting for me to appear on February 15, 2006, before the court in Brooklyn, New York according to( writ of habeas corpus),for my appearance in front of Grand Jury, signed by the Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Lawrence Ferazani.(But prosecutor did not put me in front of any grand jury as he mentioned in the document).
Family Threatened by RCMP & FBI
Once in Brooklyn, on January 31, 2006 I phoned my family in Montreal Canada. At that time I learned that a police officer, Officer Buttazzoni from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had contacted my sister and brother-in-law regarding the whereabouts of my wife, from whom I had been separated since 2001. They told him that she had returned to Pakistan. There was no explanation given by Buttazzoni as to the purpose of the call, and he left his phone number with my brother-in-law, telling him to please have my wife call him back immediately. My wife called Buttazzoni several times and left messages on his voice mail, after which Buttazzoni told my brother-in-law to tell her not to call him again. During these calls officer Buttazzoni, collected the whereabouts of my family, from my family members and forwarded to USA Federal prosecutor/FBI.(which was provided to him on good faith, being a honest and responsible Canadian citizens). RCMP also committed this kind of discriminated crimes against others Muslims in Canada in the name of so called “war on Terror” and forwarded the personal information of Canadian citizens, like Mr.Maher Arar, Mr.Abdullah Almalki, Mr.Ahmed El Maati to another countries like USA, Syria, U.K and Egypt, only being Muslims. Interrogators in Egypt also allegedly knew particulars details about Ahmed Maati’s life, such as the make and colour of his car. Then on February 17, 2006 I was brought by Federal Prosecutor Ferazani and four other investigators including FBI to an office in New York to be interrogated, without an attorney present. I was told by the AUSA officer that if I did not talk they would arrest my sisters in Montreal and my wife in Pakistan. He said, “We just have to make a call”. I was surprised and scared that he knew where my family lived. He said, “If you don’t tell me (what I want to know) I can recommend lethal injection to the court and call the press, and tomorrow morning you will in every newspaper as a big terrorist”. Another Federal Agent from the same interrogation team told me that if I did not co-operate, they would turn me over to the Indian Government, an enemy of Pakistan, which would view me as an enemy. “You know better than I do what they can do with you”, he said. At this time I was certain that my family was in danger because they were living in countries (Pakistan and Canada) that work closely with US Law Enforcement and Intelligence agencies. I was scared they would be harassed by these people as well as by the Canadian police for reasons that I did not know. I strongly believed the RCMP was working in collaboration with the FBI to harass me to admit to charges of crimes that I did not commit.
And the person like my situation, who had been summonally arrested himself as the material witness of 9/11 in 2001 ,and still has not see the light of day beyond prison walls, had every reason to believe the threats made against my family with the help of RCMP is true. In addition, after experiencing my liberty evaporate after fulfilling the terms of world Trade Center material witness. I had every reason to believe in the overarching power of government to secure the arrest of my family and inflict the most severe punishment on them. Because I felt like I had no other choice, I signed “Miranda Rights” forms the agent gave it to me, waiving my right to an attorney’s presence during questioning and interrogating to spoke with FBI on Feb 17 and 20, 2006.
But FBI forgot to get my signature’s under my that statements, which they prepared and fabricated by their self. (Unfortunately Miranda Rights forms supersede this signature issue claim, unless the defendant proof that he signed under coercion).
(Now this was verified over two years later in commission documents dated April 23, 2008, where the Canadian Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP in Ottawa, Canada ruled that Buttazzoni did not harass my family because their collaboration with the FBI was “reasonable under the circumstances of this case”, even though no documents have been provided to explain the basis on which it was reasonable to harass their own citizens).
RCMP commission admitted and stated in their final Report dated April 23, 2008 that review of the investigation documents reveals that:-
officer Buttazzoni did contact Mr. Awan’s family members at the request of the FBI;
the evidence shows that on two occasions officer Buttazzoni was tasked with following up on the FBI’s request for assistance;
(in fact officer Buttazzoni called more than two times, but here he only admitted twice)
FBI request for assistance, which was initially sent to RCMP National Security operations Branch in Ottawa, and sent to Montreal and assigned to officer Buttazzoni;
Officer Buttazzoni tried to set up meetings between FBI and those family members he had contacted;
Commission further stated that contacting Mr. Awan’s family of the INSET unit and reasonable under the circumstances.
But commission refused and failed to answer my following questions, that why;-
and when officer Buttazzoni called?
what kind of documents and proof received by RCMP and officer from the FBI to start calling my family members, collect their personal data and why forwarded to FBI?
why RCMP not contacted directly to me?
what kind of meeting, officer Buttazzoni, tried to set-up between FBI and my family members, on the behalf of what documents and proofs he received from FBI, against me? Or only received this information that these peoples are Pakistani’s and Muslims?
I AM STILL WAITING FOR THESE ANSWERS, THESE ANSWERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME, FOR DISMISSAL OF MY CASE IN USA, AND GET JUSTICE. BECAUSE CONTRARY TO THIS, FBI TESTIFIED IN THE FEDERAL COURT, THAT THEY NEVER THREATENED ME, TO ARREST MY FAMILY MEMBERS IN MONTREAL ,WITH THE HELP OF RCMP, AT THE TIME OF THEIR INTERROGATION TO GET MY SIGNATURE’S ON THE ‘MIRANDA RIGHTS’ WAIVER FORMS, AND ESTABLISHED A CASE AGAINST ME.THEY (RCMP) ARE ONLY COVERING UP THEIR MISTAKE BY REFUSING TO CERTIFY ANSWERS TO THE 4-QUESTIONS MENTIONED ABOVE.IT APPEARS DISCRIMINATION MAY WELL BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR.RCMP’s ACTION GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF DISCRIMINATION DUE TO MY, AND MY FAMILYS’ RACE,CULTURAL HERTIGAE AND RELIGEON.
February 17, 2006 – Interrogation … and bribe
I was intimidated and pushed to the edge during this interrogation. Because of their numerous explicit and implicit threats, I believed I would be facing the death penalty if I refused to speak. Even though I could not answer all of their questions, I was determined to provide anything the US officials wanted to make them happy, even if the questions made no sense.
During this interrogation, the agents offered me to work for them in an “under cover capacity” abroad in Pakistan and Canada. And further they wanted me to testify against a group of Sikh people living in USA, and Pakistan ISI (Pakistan Army Intelligence Services), that they take care of terrorist groups, on fabricated statements,(which they prepared) based on my association with them from when I lived in Pakistan. I refused. So they told me to keep in mind that they wanted me to testify against people who are of the Sikh religion, not from my country, but from India, an enemy of Pakistan, and, because I am a Muslim, I should not have any concern with them. They asked me, “What is your problem with giving statements against them in court”? I said, “But they are human beings! If they did something wrong and I knew about it, I would be more than happy to help the law but you are asking me about something which I know nothing about”.
After my refusal to work for the government on their fabricated statements, the agents waited a couple weeks and then started asking me again, through my attorney. Upon my continuous refusal, Officer Buttazzoni in Montreal again began to approach my family. This time he contacted two sisters instead of one, and told them to come to his office, separately to indirectly put pressure on me to work with them. I told my family when I spoke to them on the phone from jail to get an attorney and not to go to Buttazzoni’s office without a legal written notice from him. They followed my advice, and the RCMP stopped calling them; but not before the FBI was able to achieve its goal of creating a self-incriminating statement from me based on “evidence” they secured during their interrogation of me without the presence of my attorney. The only reason I signed the Miranda Rights waiver was because of the coercion of the RCMP and FBI conspiracy to set me up. Although the FBI did not convince me to work for them, (along-with lot of benefits, like money, green cards to my entire family etc and all kind of protection) against other people and any government’s if I, work abroad and testified against Pakistan army intelligence (ISI) as a result of my refusal prosecutors were able to go in front of a Grand Jury and indicted me, based on my own (fabricated) statements, prepared by federal agents without my signature. In the last few years, I have observed that whenever North American police use and apply this kind of vengeful, inhumane, threatening, pride and ego abusive methods on any human being, they call their sophisticated abuses “investigative techniques” to legally justify their mistakes and violations of the law.
After my refusal to testify against the Sikh peoples and Pakistan army intelligence (ISI),on their fabricated case and statements, Federal prosecutors brought the on duty Indian Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Iqbal Singh of Indian Punjab Police Department, as their expert witness, with the permission and approval of Indian Government (according to court papers), to testified in the open federal court of New York against Pakistan and Pakistani army intelligence,(who is the best ally of USA government and worked and working as front line ,in the war of terror, for USA according to the repeatedly statements and acknowledgements of USA government high officials and President Bush as well). During his entire testimony, he never testified or said any single word about or against me, nor discussed any issue related to me.
During his testimony, in open Federal court of New York he testified and explained the:-
structure and reason of the birth of various Sikh organizations;
about the attack of Indian army on their Sikh holy places in early 1980’s;
he also motioned and mentioned and testified about the names of Sikh’s, Mr. Gurbax Singh and Mr. Pritpal Singh, whom names were mentioned in my “BILL OF PARTICULAR’S” related to my Indictment, that they are wanted by the Indian Government
he also testified that the leader of Mr. Prem Jeet Singh, runs the radio programme from Pakistan Radio Station, in Lahore named “PUNJABI DARBAR” which was widely listetned in East Indian Punjab side;
and Mr.PMJ is wanted by the Indian government for various crimes (who is not convicted yet on any charge yet)
and further, Pakistan army intelligence (ISI) is taking care of him, and providing him money, shelter, training, arms and ammunition, to attack the India;
and lot of another things about and against Pakistan.
Third charge March 16, 2006
On March 16, 2006, I completed the term of my imprisonment and was to be released from American custody and deported back to Canada. Before I could even go out onto the street I was arrested a third time and charged with “Conspiracy to Provide Material Support”, “Providing Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist”, and “Money Laundering to Support Terrorism”, for supposedly providing support to the Sikh organization Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) leader, Mr. Paramjit Singh Panjwar (PMJ), whom I met once when visiting Pakistan, and with whom I do not have any common interests because we are from different countries, different cultures, and different religions.
I have been charged under section 2339 (a) Title of United States code, which makes it illegal to provide material support to a foreign terrorist. I believe that I am a victim of the discrimination that was outlined in the July 3rd, 2006 issue of weekly Time magazine. On its page No:29, column 3. In this article section 2339(a) and (b) are discussed and criticized:-
“as most suspects are charged under these two sections. However the justice Department here in America admits that of the more than 2218 guilty pleas that it has obtained, most are for minor investigation issues that are uncovered dealing the course of their terrorism investigation. This suggest, according to the article that the Attorney General’s office have is not concerned about the rights or fairness or the manner in which it achieves convictions for the people they arrest. Furthermore, criticizes have noted that one of the patterns to emerge from these domestic prosecutions that suspects seen too incompetent to carry out the deeds they are accused of The Deputy attorney General acknowledges that the Dept of justice goal is “PREVENTIONS THROUGH PROSECUTIONS” did this is done within regard for an individual’s rights.
I agree that these guilty of terrorism should be prosecuted. But as the above mentioned article suggest, innocent people should not be targeted because of their race and religion. I am not a terrorist and I should not be targeted and treated unfairly and unjustly.
The same day, on March 16, 2006 Federal Prosecutor, told the Judge, that he had arranged for an attorney for me before I had arrived from Allenwood prison in Jan 2006, stating that he wanted to “protect” me because I “clearly had criminal exposure” But in fact on Feb. 17 and 20, 2006, after government obtained the statements from me, under coercion with the help of Canadian RCMP, government approached a U.S. Magistrate Judge for appointment of council for me.
These charges emerged while I was still in prison, and had no capability to provide KCF with any kind of support. In the plea agreement I signed for my previous “money laundering” charge (from Jan 1999 to April 2002), it is mentioned that no further money laundering charges would be brought against me, and when the government indicated me again for money laundering from 1998 to 2001, it was double jeopardy and a violation of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution. The Government conveniently has used the prior prosecution as both a sword and shield depending on its tactical goal. The Government/Prosecutor, maintains that the prior fraud prosecution is interrogated with the instant prosecution in various ways, from overlapping physical evidence.
During my arraignment for this new fabricated case, on March 16, 2006, the federal prosecutors told the judge in the court on March 16, 2006 during my first court appearance:-
THE COURT: If you don’t come to some accord you anticipate other people, other people are going to join in this matter.
AUSA: (FEDERAL PROSECUTOR): There are two individuals that we have identified as potentially being joined. Yet at this stage we don’t have sufficient evidence to charge.
After my refusal to work for the government on their fabricated statements against these “two individuals” (as explained above by the prosecutor), who are belongs to Sikh religion, and further prosecutor and federal investigator had been after these two Sikhs, since 2000 (who were also organizers and leader of North American Khalistan Commando Force). Since 2000 to 2006 the federal investigator and prosecutor called them in their office more than 10 times, but failed to charge them.
After my refusal to use me against them on fabricated statements, federal investigator/AUSA went to them and this time Indicted them, according to their will and wish, by giving them a lot of benefits, and prepared them to testified against me during trial, that they both gave me two thousand U.S dollars in 2000 and 2001,to transfer them to their Sikh leader living in Lahore, Pakistan, and further they also testified that Pakistani army intelligence is helping their Sikh leader in Pakistan and also giving a training, to fight against India.
Interesting part of this game was this, that these two Sikh’s were that “TWO INDIVIDUALS” for which federal prosecutor told to the judge that “we don’t have sufficient evidence to charge them”. That they had “two individuals” they had identified as “potentially to be joined in this matter, but at this stage we don’t have enough evidence to charge”.
And on the same day on March 16, 2006 prosecutor told the Judge in the court, that they needed intercepts obtained through FISA (the Foreign Intelligence Secrecy Act), claiming the “counts against this defendant are complex” because the recordings were in foreign languages – Punjabi and Urdu. However, three months later on June 29, 2006, when my new attorneys requested a copy of the FISA disks, for the purpose of determining whether the government had unlawfully gathered any exculpatory or inculpatory evidence against me, the prosecutor responded that he did not have a single FISA recording against me.
August 2006 – Administrative Detention
I appeared in court and pled “not-guilty” for my Second Superseding Indictment on August 2, 2006. Upon my continuous refusal to work for the government on their fabricated statements against the Sikh people, on August 03, 2006, FBOP officials placed me into the Segregation Housing Unit (SHU), on order of the prosecutor, “based on all the circumstances that the above named inmate’s continued presence in the general population poses a serious threat to life, property, self, staff, other inmates, or to the security or orderly running of the institution”.
For 310 days of segregation and isolation, I did not have access to a phone to call my family or to make legal calls to my attorney nor access to copies of my legal work or a typewriter or ink pen; my legal mail was opened in my absence on a regular basis, my incoming and outgoing family mail was held for months and my newspapers and magazines were not delivered; I received no medical treatment for my injured shoulder nor access to my eyeglasses, and my medications were switched with those of another inmate; the main water line of my cell was shut down; I was strip-searched after legal visits; I was put in the recreation cage during rain, placed in a cell with a leaky ceiling, ordered not cover my face when I was cold, alternately put into cells with no lights or with lights on all the time; sheets and blankets were not changed for months; and they put me on psychiatric medication so I would stop complaining. All this despite the fact that I was rated a “low security” inmate on the government’s “Male Custody Classification Form”. There were a lot of other continuous tortures. I went on a hunger strike for four days, and after that I filed various complaints with the FBOP higher authorities, but no action was taken.
October 2006
After my refusal to work for the government on their fabricated case against the “two individuals” who belonged to the Sikh religion, the government went to them and indicated them and, giving them a lot of benefits, prepared them to testify against me.
During my pre-trial bearing, on the motions filed after a lot of research by my wonderful attorneys Khurram B. Wahid and Sean M. Maher, the first two counts of my indictment; 1) Conspiracy to Provide Material Support, and 2) Providing Material Support to a foreign Terrorist, were dismissed by the Senior Federal District Judge, due to lack of facts and figures. Within two weeks, AUSA indicted me again, probably to cover up for their huge embarrassment. This hastily drawn up indictment was also full of factual errors and creative legal theories. This time, in the Bill of Particular/Indictment, AUSA included the names of the following participants as co-conspirators in this “conspiracy”.
Khalid Awan
Paramjit Singh Panjwar – Leader of Sikh Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), residing in Pakistan (not indicted)
Gurbax Singh – Indicted as co-conspirator # 1
Baljinder Singh – Indicted as co-conspirator # 2
Jatinder Singh – Residing in Texas (not indicted)
Dr. Pritpal Singh – Residing in California (not indicted)
Except me, all the ‘co-conspirators’ are elected leaders of the Sikh religion, a group of people known in Pakistani history books as the worst killers and rapists of the Pakistani nation, having, killed, raped, burned and cut into pieces a hundred thousand Muslim men, women, girls, boys and infants during the world’s largest migration from India to Pakistan in 1947.
Pakistani history books, movies, dramas and school academic books telling and keep reminding these barbaric acts of Sikhs to each and every Pakistani. And I am charged for helping enemies of my nation and country, WHAT A JOKE?
Sikh Background (a little history)
If we examine the international map we are to see India surrounded by its estranged neighbours China, Nepal, Bangledesh, Sri-lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar and Pakistan. This array of countries holds customs and beliefs as Muslims, some communists, Buddhaists, Hindus. All have long standing differences and are largely in conflict with India. Can we possibly believe these conflicts and differences are not in some way rooted at least in part in India? Can all of these neighbours always be wrong and
India always right? Or is the greater probability India must at least share responsibility for these seemingly endless contentions?
Sources available to me seem to support the fact that India consists of 608 Districts. Of those, we see that in at least 231 Districts an array of active organizations and groups are functioning as separatists in contrast to India central authority. This it would seem is fueled by the atrocities perpetrated by Indian government fundamentalists, especially prosecution of minorities. These factors it can be asserted are deeply ex-trenched in India’s majority devotion to ancient class based prejudices, which enshrine a standard of violations of Human Rights as justified in ideology against the lower classes and
minorities. Among those so discriminated against is KCF (Khalistan Commando Force).
From the mid-1980s to the mid – 1990s, the decade of violent political opposition in Punjab, an area divided between India and Pakistan, and its pattern of unlawful and indiscriminate arrests and killings have left a legacy of “catch and kill” police practices in the state.
The militancy period began in the early 1980s when a movement within the Sikh community in the Punjab state of India turned to violence attempting to achieve an independent state for the Sikhs, which they would call Khalistan. Their political representatives, the Akali Dal launched a civil disobedience campaign against a decision to divert a river vital to the Sikh farmers within the state. A number of Sikh organizations were banned and their leaders took shelter in the Sikh holy place called the Golden Temple, where sick people and infants were also getting blessings. The Indian army attacked the Golden Temple, and about 10,000 civilian lives were lost.
The protest that followed the Golden Temple attach were retaliated by Indian army and police arrests and killing of approximately 40,000 Sikh people all over Punjab, according to the Amnesty International report. Hundreds of people were detained without charge or trial, and thousands of “disappearances” and extrajudicial executions were carried out by the police.
As a result, thousands of Sikhs fled to various countries as a refuge. The countries that accepted Sikhs on political asylum and issued them permanent residence included France, United Kingdom, Germany Belgium, Australia, Canada, Pakistan and the United States. Many of the Sikhs who were living near Pakistan took refuge inside Pakistan, having the advantage of speaking the same language and many established holy places where Sikhs from all over the world to come annually to perform their pilgrimage to the Pakistan side of the Punjab State. Pakistan is like a Vatican for the Sikhs, because the Sikh religion was started there and it was the birthplace of their holy Guru.
Paramjit Singh Panjwar (PMJ)
Among these Sikhs, PMJ also took refuge after members of his family were arrested and killed by the Indian police. After his arrival in Pakistan he started producing videos about the attacks and killings of Sikhs by the Indian police, and started printing and distribution literature on the Sikh problems at the hand of the Indian government. He also started broadcasting a daily radio program called “Punjabi Darbar”, from a Pakistan government station that is widely listened to in both Punjab Pakistan and India, and started running various charities for Sikh families in India and Pakistan whose bread-winning family members had been killed by the Indian government just for being Sikhs.
I met PMJ on a visit to Pakistan, when he was living next to my brother-in-law there, and I invited him to my sister’s wedding. He wrote his phone number down for me on a piece of paper, plus that of Baljinder Singh, his friend who lived in New York, who was community advocate for the Sikh people that might refer clients to me for immigration purposes. I kept the number, but did not call him.
The FBI had been after Baljinder Singh since 2000, after he delivered a speech in front of the White House to the North American Sikh people at the “Sikh Million March” on Washington that year. The FBI had called him over 10 times for interrogation from 2000 to 2006, but was unable to arrest him. When they interrogated me on February 17, 2006, they told me they needed me to testify in court that the Pakistani government was taking care of terrorists in Pakistan. It was Baljinder Singh, and Gurbax Singh, a close relative of PMJ, that they wanted me to testify against them, since FBI found his and PMJ’s phone numbers on a piece of paper – not even in my phone book – during their search of each and every inch of my office and home in New York after my arrest in 2001,which was given to me by Mr. PMJ, that Baljinder Singh who lived in New York, and a community advocate for the Sikh people in the USA, might refer clients to me for immigration purpose. I kept that phone number, but did not call him. After finding this phone number FBI deputized their paid Sikh informant, Harjit Singh, into my unit at MDC in 2003-2004. And paid him US$.20,000/= (to asked, record and discussed various political related discussion, about Pakistan- -India and Sikh peoples, who visited every year to Pakistan, from all over the world for their pilgrimage, and later he made its own definitions and translation, in the court of this recorded conversation, for successfully establishing a charge against me), in lieu of receiving a US$ 20,000/ cash and green cards for him, his family members, living in India.
One day he told me during routine conversation, while he was recording me, with the FBI provided hidden device, that he was going to be released from federal custody in the next six months, and he wished to visit Pakistan for the Sikh Pilgrimage and visit all the holy places there. He asked me if I knew some Sikh in Pakistan who might take care of him during his visit. I replied that I did know a Sikh, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, who moved from India to Pakistan, who was living there on Political Asylum and who was also my brother-in-law’s neighbor. Harjit Singh told me he’d heard about this person in the news, and asked me to please introduce him over the phone so he could stay with him which I did.
The FBI then went to Baljinder and Gurbax Singh and convinced them to testify that I had transferred $4000 from them to Pakistan on behalf of PMJ. In exchange for this, Prosecutor dropped the charges they had against them and promised amnesty from the Indian government (protection from Interpol for armed attack on Indian police and murdering the police informant in India named Mr. P. Paul Singh) and green cards for them and their families, so these criminals and International wanted fugitive’s can live free in the U.S society.
PMJ has not been indicted by the USA, nor convicted by the Indian courts of anything. No effort has been spent for his extradition from Pakistan by the Pakistani government, and ally of the US in their “war on terror” that has handed over 7000 of their own Pakistani Muslim citizens to the US government, according to Amnesty International report in 2005. According to my attorneys, papers filed in a court stated that, no American citizen of the Christian faith has even been arrested for providing material support to the KCF, nor has any person of the Sikh faith, despite the fact that the KCF is a Sikh organization that draws its support from members of the Sikh community.
I, on the other hand, a Canadian citizen of Pakistan origin and Muslim faith, was convicted on fake, fabricated and government purchased testimonies of Sikh’s religious people. On September 12, 2007 for transferring $2000 + $2000=US$ 4000.00, I was sentenced as follows:
Conspiracy to provide material support 14 years (transferring $2000/= in 2001 from Baljinder Singh)
Providing material support to foreign terrorists 10 years (transferring $2000/=in 2000 from Gurbax Singh)
Money laundering to support terrorism 14 years (transferring total $4000/= as mentioned above)
Total: 38 years – to run concurrently = 14 years in prison.
During the trial, in the court Mr. Gurbax Singh testified that after giving me $2000/= for transferred to Pakistan (to his cousin) thereafter he, again raised money in New York and given to “Mr. Thillol Harban Singh” (HARBANS) to transfer to Pakistan.
Interestingly, I was sentenced on the Gurbax Singh fake testimony, but on Gurbax Singh same kind of testimony against another Sikh Harbans, was not charged for the same or any other crime, because he was not Pakistani and Muslim.
I am mentioning the dissent opinion of ( Circuit/High court, Federal Judge Gregory) from one, case No: “United States V. Hammound 381 F3d 316 (4th Circuit 2004)” stating:-
In recommending as much, I do not seek to give comfort to terrorist organizations, or to diminish the reality of clear and present threats posed by such groups. To the contrary, I seek to up held the constitution in a manner that does not harken back to a bleaker era of American history, when characters were impugned and individual indicted, convicted and punished based on little more than suspicion, association and fear without the “present guilt” which is the HALL MARK OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STSTEM.
As of that date, I was the only person in the USA to be convicted of terrorism. The Federal District Judge dismissed my terrorism-related enhancements, stating “I cannot find from evidence before me that the defendant was motivated by a desire to influence or retaliate… the motivational element of a ‘federal crime of terrorism’, is not demonstrated”. He recommended, at my request, for me to be placed in Fort Dix Prison in New Jersey or another nearby prison in New York. But Federal Bureau of Prison transferred me in Indiana prison complex, in which one small part was isolated for Muslims and political prisoners.
SPANISH PROVERB: Laws, like the spider’s web, catch the fly and let the hawk go FREE
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, Former Assistant Treasury Secretary in USA, in his article mentioned above, states Prosecutors have lost sight of innocence and guilt. What we have today is a conveyor belt that convicts almost everyone who is charged. In the US, criminal justice has more to do with ruining people than with punishing criminals, and further stated that generally jurors trust prosecutors and are unaware of their (prosecutor) inventory of dirty tricks. The prosecutors’ career depends on his conviction rate, not on discovering the guilt or innocence of the accused.
Jail
The Degree of Civilization in a Society can be judged by entering its prison (Distoevski—The House of Dead)
After my sentence, the government was still not happy. There is no justice or constitutional rights for someone like me, being a foreigner and a Muslim. I have been in the Federal Prison system for six years and do not have a single disciplinary ticket on my record and have primarily spent my jail time in normal jails in the “low” category. But after I was charged with this new crime and refused to work for the government I have become a dangerous person in the government records and on August 23, 2007 was placed in administrative detention “for high security concerns”, even in my more than seven years of incarceration, I don’t have any single disciplinary complaint/ticket on my record. I have nicknamed myself “TOP” – (Terrorist on Paper).
The government sent me to FCI Terre Haute Prison in Indiana, a “medium” prison with the exception of one isolated unit, called the “Guantanamo Bay on American Soil”, Unit D, which is why jail official write “dog unit” on our commissary bags, medication, and so forth. Only Muslim inmates are placed here; except when the media started writing about discrimination on the part of the BOP, seven foreign Christian prisoners were also placed in this unit.
According to the history of this jail/unit, it was built in the 1930s for Cuban people, after which it was used for convicted members of the Ku Klux Klan. Then it was used for death row inmates until its “permanent closure”, the unit /place I live to be called “Death Row”. Every day I imagine how many people before me were locked in my cell, sleeping on the same bed, until they finally received the death penalty/executed. Everywhere the building is telling me about those who died, I cannot forget it. (I read in the paper, that in Germany someone killed his wife and still after 2-years the landlord cannot find anyone willing to rent the house because someone was killed there. I am sure that many people were living in my cell, sleeping on the same bed I used and waited here for death until it finally comes for them).
To me it is clear that the Government separated us out from normal prisons and prisoners life and put us here for their reason. Most of the peoples here are victims of the Govt., who targeted them and set them up. Then during the prosecution they claimed that these peoples are dangerous, intent to harm American’s and would support terrorist’s So now to keep the charade going they must open a special unit and claim we are dangerous to be in general population/regular jails. Locking us down in this dirty old and cold leaking building and prohibiting us from hugging our children and putting restriction to call our kids often, never bring peace to this country and will never made this nation safer, but it is really putting the justice system in this country on trial.
Sometime in my cell, I talk with myself and laugh that what kind of terrorist’s we are in this prison and in U.S government system, who were and who are living in USA along-with their families, school going kids and infants. I strongly believe that terrorists are not that stupid, who come in this country “GOD FORBID” with intention or planning for terrorism and destruction purpose. Why would they brings their families/kids with them, instead of coming alone, because without their families and kids they feel more confidant and comfortable to do something wrong.
This is a common sense question, but till now I did not find the answers, and no one wants to listen or think about it?
This jail was re-opened with minor repairs for Muslim inmates, because they are worse than the death-row inmates, not because of their fabricated crimes but because of their religious beliefs. We are denied many privileges according to BOP policy because we are Muslims, including “no contact visits” – must be through glass; phone calls are routed through Washington D.C. for translation, and only one 15 minutes call is allowed per week, and all incoming and outgoing mail is scanned by Washington D.C. The buildings are old and leaking, the windows don’t close properly so it cold in the winter; there is poor air circulation and flying insects in the summer; melted lead is coming out of the walls and many inmates have joint pain.
The government does this to us intentionally to goad us to act violently so they can justify their claim that we are dangerous, but they have failed. According to the jail guards this Muslim unit is the most peaceful they have ever seen in any prison anywhere, and they ask to be allowed to work here.
Summary
This prison machine does not recognize the human being. It sees only an object to be manipulated and controlled. Using isolation and other tactics of dehumanization to crush our spirits and destroy our minds and families, even if an inmate wins a reversal or commuted sentence, irreversible damage has already been done. Locking us down in this dirty, old, cold, leaking building and prohibiting us from hugging our children and restricting our calls to them will never bring peace to this country or make this nation safer.
I agree that those guilty of terrorism should be prosecuted, but innocent people should not be targeted because of their race or religion. Because terrorism and terrorist related cases don’t have boundaries, the government takes its ideology as far as it can and especially those officials who are running and operating the laws at their discretion enjoy qualified immunity for their wrongdoings.
I am a Canadian citizen and all of my family is in Canada, including my wife and kids. Since I was first arrested by the American government, I have been singled out, isolated and discriminated against, not only because of my race and religion, but also because I don’t know any of the information that the American government is trying to pressure out of me. I do not understand the American laws, which is why I pled guilty in the first place, and I am having difficulty understanding the new charges as well. Because of this, my rights under the US Constitution are being violated. I am being held here in further detention against my will for crimes that I never committed. I am not a terrorist and I should not be targeted and treated unfairly and unjustly.
The AUSA succeeded in getting a verdict against me from the jurors in December, 2006, with the help of the ongoing media glamorization campaign of the “war on terror”, by casting this as a “terrorist” case the government created a situation where jury permitted the government to obtain conviction with evidence that don’t prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I have been convicted of: guilt by association; refusing to work for the FBI abroad in an undercover capacity, making them angry and vengeful; refusing to help the government by testifying against members of the Sikh religion using Government prepared fabricated statements; and being a Muslim and native of Pakistan.
After I convicted on this fabricated terrorist related case, which is imposed on me, being a Muslim through purchasing a fake testimonies of Sikh peoples against me. Some people say’s I am encourages, because since 9/11 ,2001 arrest I kept fighting for Justice and never give up, but few says I’m may be bad man. There have been so many rumors—–that I ‘m a terrorist, my lot of close school, college, childhood friends and relative become scared and confused, they don’t know how to treat me,(due to the FBI and prosecutor’s atrocities against me since 9/11),even they know my nature, way of thinking, peaceful attitude and human loving behavior, and very well aware, that even I am not capable for doing any crime.
Prosecutor convicted me by misusing his legal power, only for showing his credibility in his profession for his bright future, on the basis of purchased, fake and systematical fabricated testimonies. BUT he forget in this temporarily and materialistic world and life, that there is another life ,after death is going to start very soon for each and every person, and he/she is going to face a GOD FINAL SUPER MAXIMUM SUPREME COURT, when no one needs help of any attorney’s, prosecutor judges, witnesses, expert and juries, for getting convictions. Each and every human being apart from any religion and ethnicity must get a true justice on merit basis, along-with wonderful reward and severe punishment of his/her doings::::
Isn’t it time that all humans are equal? We hear this, but we would like to see it – especially in that country called the United States of America, self-claimed across the world as a champion of human rights.
(Thanks from the bottom of my heart to you, Mr. Don Harkin and Ms. Anne W. Chaimberlain for your devoted, caring attention in helping me expose my plight and injustices being suffered by myself and others. Your humanitarian devotion, on-going help and attitude truly an inspiration to me in my life!)
Khalid Qayyum Awan (From USA Federal Prison)
http://www.awankhalid.com/khalid-awans-story.php