The News (29/05/2004)
By Waheed Khan
KARACHI: Ten Taekwando players from Punjab who were arrested on terrorism charges last year in Riga, Latvia where they had gone to participate in an international tournament have decided to file a compensation and defamation claim against the Latvian government.
Well known human rights activist and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Welfare trust international, Advocate Ansar Burney confirmed on Friday he would be filing the claim next week on behalf of the ten players.
Latvia is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and gained independence from Soviet Union in August 1991.
The 10 players were only released by the Latvian government three months back after Ansar Burney took up their case and went to Riga to represent them.
"The players who were innocent people are still suffering from the affects of their horrendous experience behind bars as they underwent lot of mental torture and harassment for no fault at all," Burney said.
"The image and name of Pakistan was also tarnished because of the unjust action of the Latvian government and its Ministry of interior affairs. And these players now demand and deserve compensation and justice for the wrong done to them," Burney added.
The ordeal of the ten players namely Chaudhry Mohammad Mansha, Muzaffar Hayat Khan, Mohammad Shafiq Marlo, Mohammad Akmal Siddiqi, Ateequr Rehman, Imran Malik, Ejaz Ahmad, Rashid Ahmad Bhatti, Mohammad Zahid and Mohammad Akmal Siddiqi began last year when they went to Riga, Latvia on 15th November and stayed in a local hotel and also took part in the games.
"They got valid visas at the Riga Air port till 23rd November. When they made reservation for their return to Pakistan for 22nd by Aeroflot via Russia, they were arrested a day before their return on the terrorism charges," Burney recounted.
"Their only crime was that they were travelling on the same flight as the Israeli basketball team," he narrated.
He said the innocent Taekwando players had gone to Riga with legal visas and completing all other legal formalities, but were arrested on November 21 from their hotel on terrorism charges on a crime they had never committed".
"The arrests were made although no weapons or other hazardous materials were found during a search of their hotel but the Latvian authorities suspected them to be terrorists because they were travelling on the same flight as the Israeli basketball players," he said.
Burney said the arrest of the ten Pakistanis amounted to a discrimination against them because of their religion and nationality, which was why he had decided to file a compensation claim and fight their case by bringing defamation charges against the Latvian government.
"We can also fight our case that concerns illegal arrest and detention in the International Court of Justice and United Nations Human Rights Commission," he added.
The Ansar Burney Welfare trust international will also be seeking assistance from the Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs and Pakistan embassy in Latvia.
Press Back on your browser to Return
| 
