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*On 29 April 2014 Amina Masood Janjua was released on direct orders from Pakistan President Nawaz Sharif.

 

28 April 2014

 

(London, UK) CAGE has received reports that leading human rights campaigner Amina Masood Janjua has been arrested, for the second time, by Pakistani security forces. In what appears to have been a heavy-handed police response to a peaceful protest, Mrs Janjua was recorded being forced into a vehicle by several journalists, who were then themselves the targets of police attacks.

 

Amina Masood Janjua is the wife of Mr Masood Janjua who was disappeared in Pakistan in 2006. She rose to prominence after founding The Defence of Human Rights Trust where she has investigated her husband’s disappearance, as well as those of many others.

 

Amina has worked tirelessly for many years in partnership with many individuals and organisations, in the hope that she will gain justice not only for her family, but the 700 families that she assists.

 

Asim Qureshi, Research Director of CAGE, said:

 

"I remember Nawaz Sharif (President of Pakistan) going out of his way to support Amina during his election campaign. That she has now been arrested under Mr Nawaz’s watch is not only cause for concern, but a major breach of the trust he was given. All people of conscience should call on the Pakistan authorities to immediately release her."

 

[ENDS]

 

NOTES:

 

1.     CAGE (formerly known as CagePrisoners) is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of prisoners’ rights.

2.     To learn more about Amina Masood Janjua and the cases that she has represented, please read the following:

 http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/opinion-editorial/item/1341-account-of-amina-janjua-detention-in-pakistan

http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/opinion-editorial/item/5674-most-cherished-memories-packed  

http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/opinion-editorial/item/691-the-fight-becomes-tough-for-my-family 

http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/reports/item/104-devoid-of-the-rule-of-law-pakistans-war-on-terror

 

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

 

Contact:            Mr Amandla Thomas-Johnson

Phone:              +(44) 207 377 6700

Email:              press@cageuk.org

Web:                cage.ngo

 

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(NOTE: CAGE represents cases of individuals based on the remit of our work. Supporting a case does not mean we agree with the views or actions of the individual. Content published on CAGE may not reflect the official position of our organisation.)