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Request of Exclusion of Maulana Fazal U Rehman is undesirable in public and national interest
Chair APL (Association of Pakistani Lawyers) a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, and Judges in UK issued a statement and jointly declared that exclusion of Fazal U Rehman, a Pakistani politician is undesirable in public & national interest and due to possible repercussions on relations with both countries. Fazal U Rehman who is a member of national assembly is a current chair man of Parliamentary committee on Kashmir and holds the status of a Minister of the state of Pakistan and has been the opposition leader during the last 5 years of the Parliament and is a seasoned politician. Denying him entry or issuing exclusion order when he represents the state of Pakistan on Kashmir issue would be undesirable in Public & national interest and will spoil bilateral relations of both Britain and Pakistan and will breach Rehman’s basic human rights. It will also be injustice to a million Kashmiris living in Britain who has every right that their plight is highlighted through Pakistani dignitaries leading in this field.
Mr. Fazal Ur Rehman’s entry may not be restricted at this juncture when he has been a frequent visitor to UK in last decade without any complaint in public domain of posing any considerable, threat to state, public and or individuals, and at a time when Kashmir has taken a pivotal position in international scene. It is a known fact that Indian aggression is increasing day by day and their stance is well represented in the media and public through their chosen representative. Therefore, Maulana’s entry may not be restricted to rule out Pakistani and Kashmiri representation at international front. The job to issue exclusion order is that of Home Secretary and application if comes from Indian side is understandable, however any Pakistani citizen making such intervention may not be free from possible allegations of malice and mala fide due to prevailing polarisation and intolerance in the politics of Pakistan.
APL is of the view that issuing exclusion order is the job of Secretary of state for the Home Department Rt. Honourable Theresa May and had Mr. Rehman been in a category who poses any threat to public,or state. The Home Secretary would have taken a notice by now and his visa would have been curtailed before entry to UK. But as he does not pose any such threat or there is no considerable evidence presented in public domain to support such assertions then seeking such exclusion orders will lead to a negative trend of a series of requests to ban and issue exclusion orders against prominent leaders of Pakistan whether Govt and or opposition, so it will set a wrong trend and will spoil the pleasant and tolerant society of UK which welcomes every one and has the capacity to listen and accommodate all school of thoughts and agree to disagree with all race, colour, creed and nationalities as London is a cosmopolitan centre of multiculturalism and one must not destroy that venue due to wishful thinking.
APL confirmed that opposing exclusion does not mean to agree with maulana’s politics, as disagreeing with maulana’s politics is a basic right of any individual and every one must exercise that right freely in press, public and media domain, and Pakistani politician has the knack to answer his critics in a free and tolerant manner, and complaint must also exhaust that avenue to express his personal objections with Maulana at first instance.
APL has jointly reiterated that any move to seek exclusion orders against Maulana if without credible evidence will be detested and contested in court(s) and public domain on principles of equality and justice., and APL opposes such move and line of requests strongly.
Barrister Amjad Malik
Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Signed By Chair & Secretary
Of Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
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