Full Coverage: Democracy

30.11.2007 The Central Park of the Indian capital was lit up by aspirations for peace in the region, as more than 20 organisations celebrated the South Asian Women's Day for peace, justice, human rights and democracy. This was also the spot where Anusheh Adil and her popular band BANGLA played a special piece for the day, as part of the SAARC Band Festival.

30.11.2007 President Pervez Musharraf in a televised address has said that he intends to lift the emergency on December 16 and urged all to participate in elections scheduled to take place on January 8, 2008. Some political parties in Pakistan plan to boycott the elections, fearing that they would not be fair and transparent.

29.11.2007 Finally bowing to the pressures from domestic quarters and international community, Gen Pervez Musharraf has stepped down as Pakistan’s army chief. He handed over the charge to his trusted deputy Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kavani in a ceremony held in Rawalpindi.

28.11.2007 Around 15 organisations, on November 27, held a silent protest at New Delhi’s cultural hub Mandi House in support of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who has been in exile since 1994. Living in eastern Indian city of Kolkata since 2003, she had to recently move out when under pressure from Muslim fundamentalists, the West Bengal government forced her to leave at once.

26.11.2007 Pakistan has been slapped with yet another suspension under the same regime from the 53-member Commonwealth. Last time it was in 1999, when Musharraf had seized power in a coup. The recent ban has come in the wake of the imposition of emergency and is to be revoked only after democracy and the rule of law are restored.

23.11.2007 Economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in an interview speaks out his mind and rejects the perceived notions on issues like Islamic terrorism, clash of civilisation, globalisation, war on terror, etc. He believes that civilisation is not just about religion and that the real objective of globalisation ought to be avoidance of inequality.

19.11.2007 “Even if we do not get democracy out of this, we have proved yet again that Pakistan is a democratic society trapped in an undemocratic state. Blogs are one way in which people are finding expression. The new media and the internet have also allowed people a great opportunity to have a say,” says Adil Najam, Pakistani academic and sustainable development expert, in an interview.

19.11.2007 General Musharraf would not have thought of a political scenario that has emerged after the imposition of martial law. His hopes for a return of normality have proved evasive, as voices of resistance are gathering force in Pakistan, says Farooq Tariq.

19.11.2007 Asma Jahangir, chairperson of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, while giving an account of the horrific tale of tortures and harassments faced by the legal community since the imposition of emergency, calls for support from the international legal fraternity.

16.11.2007 Several India-based organisations came together here in New Delhi yesterday to express their solidarity on the International Day of Action on Pakistan. They condemned the recent imposition of emergency, resulting in gagging of media, assault on justice, mass arrests and detentions.

16.11.2007 Several India-based organisations came together here in New Delhi yesterday to express their solidarity on the International Day of Action on Pakistan. They condemned the recent imposition of emergency, resulting in gagging of media, assault on justice, mass arrests and detentions.

14.11.2007 It was a shattering day for 485 victims of enforced disappearance and their families in Pakistan. The Supreme Court, in a state of disarray after the proclamation of emergency and dismissal of its Chief Justice, failed to hear the case, which was scheduled for November 13.

13.11.2007 One month after a new national policy on resettlement and rehabilitation was announced, the Indian government has to still make it public. In his scathing critique, Shripad Dharmadhikary, a coordinator of Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, finds many limitations and loopholes in the policy, saying that big industries and developers stand to benefit more than the affected people.

12.11.2007 Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in his first news conference since the imposition of martial law, has said elections will be held by January 9 but under the current state of emergency. Human rights activists were quick to retort that free and fair polls are not possible under such conditions.

12.11.2007 The UN General Assembly has declared September 15 as the International Day of Democracy, while stressing the need to promote democratization and fundamental human rights. The Assembly hopes that observing the date each year will help raise public awareness and encourage governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy.

09.11.2007 UNITED NATIONS, Nov 8 (OneWorld) - UN human rights experts urged Pakistani authorities Thursday to return to constitutional rule and stop the ongoing police crackdown on opposition activists.

07.11.2007 Lawyers and judges in Pakistan are spearheading the movement for restoration of democracy. Accustomed to fighting verbal battles in courtrooms, they are now out on the streets facing the batons of the security forces.

07.11.2007 The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has strongly condemned the imposition of emergency. It says that as a member, Pakistan has to comply with the fundamental democratic principles of the Commonwealth.

06.11.2007 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called upon Pakistan to release all human rights and opposition activists detained, including UN Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir, and to take steps for an early return to democracy.

06.11.2007 Despite the gag orders in the wake of emergency in Pakistan, people are still coming out to express their anxiety and anger. Many feel it will further push the country into crisis.