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Address by President Mandela to a joint session of the Parliament of Pakistan

• ZA COM MR-S-702

Part of Speeches

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Speech by President Mandela at a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan

• ZA COM MR-S-703

Congratulatory message from President Nelson Mandela to Hansie Cronje and the South African Cricket Team

• ZA COM MR-S-766

Nishan-I-Pakistan Award from the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

• ZA COM MR-T-1-4-0838
• 3 October 1992

Part of Nelson Mandela Tributes

President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Soccer Honour Award from the Soccer Foundation, the Rural Foundation and the Department of Sports & Recreation

• ZA COM MR-T-1-4-1215
• 26 October 1996

Soccer Foundation, Rural Foundation, Dep. of Sports & Recreation

Grand Address of Tribute 2000 from the Quaide Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Memorial Committee

• ZA COM MR-T-1-4-1386

Quaide Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Memorial Committee

Award in recognition of his contribution towards National Independence from the Quaide Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Memorial Committee

• ZA COM MR-T-3-1-1403

Plaque from the International Islamic University Islamabad

• ZA COM MR-T-5-2-1705

International Islamic University Islamabad

Honorary Doctor in Laws from the International Islamic University

• ZA COM MR-T-5-3-1698

Award presented to Mr Mandela for Education in Muslim Ummah: Present Realities and Future Aspirations from the International Islamic University

• ZA COM MR-T-5-7-1696

Broader term

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‘Mandela had deep respect, affinity for Pakistan’

South African envoy acknowledges Pakistan’s contribution in his country’s liberation movement

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Mandela in Pakistan

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Nelson Mandela, President of the African National Congress, offers prayers at the grave of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, in Karachi yesterday. During his visit he will receive the country's highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan.

(Photograph omitted)

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Home Article Nelson Mandela’s way

Nelson Mandela’s way

NELSON Mandela was a global icon who inspired the world, spending harsh 27 years in prison for his fight against the South African apartheid regime and going on to become the country’s first black president. His greatest achievement was bringing freedom and democracy to South Africa with his African National Congress (ANC) Party, after decades of brutal white minority rule. He forgave his former enemies and ushered in one of the world’s most progressive constitutions. Today South Africa is seen as a moral example and beacon of hope worldwide. Great leader Nelson Mandela served one term as President of the country. For everyone, Nelson Mandela is an inspirational figure. The most intriguing thing about Mandela is his ability to forgive everyone despite being in prison for 27 long and tiring years. He has shown the world what compassion truly means and has set an example in forgiveness. He always knew that one day he would feel again the grass under his feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man. Cowards die many times before their death. The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I have heard, it seems to me most strange that people fear, seeing death. In the midst of turbulent situations Mandela is calm and sees the calmness in others. He radiates calmness in difficult situations.

He dedicated himself to the struggle of the African people, fighting against both white domination and black domination. He cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities—an ideal he hoped to live for and to achieve. Even if it requires sacrifice, it is an ideal for which he is prepared to die. Mandela’s view is that leaders must not only lead, they must be seen to be leading—that is part of the job description. Just the way he walked and carried himself morally lifted other fellow prisoners. It uplifted them just to see him walk confidently. I have had the privilege of meeting Excellency Moosa Moola several times, a very close associate of the great Nelson Mandela.

Mandela understood that appearances do count and you get only one chance to make first impression. He believes that if you want to play the part, you have to wear the right costume. Mandela, even when in prison, took care of himself pretty well by running in place for forty-five minutes, followed by two hundred sit-ups and one hundred fingertip push-ups. He also makes sure to get eight hours of sleep each night. It shows that irrespective of your responsibilities you can still take care of your health. Mandela knew he had to share the limelight. He realized that his own goal could die unless he empowered others to lead. He genuinely believed in the virtues of his nation. He knew that to get the best out of his own people, he had to make sure that they could bring glory and that they were influencing the situation. A good leader listens, summarizes and then seeks to mould opinion and steer people towards an action. I think this is the greatest achievement of Mandela. It is extraordinary that a man who was ill-treated for so much of his life sees the good in others always. He believes seeing the good in others would eventually make them better. Mandela has shown what one can do with patience, courage, perseverance and relentless devotion to his cause. I think this is the most important lesson to learn from this great South African leader. He was in it for the long haul and was prepared for delayed gratification. Just imagine if Mandela had given up after ten years or even twenty years but he waited for twenty seven long years before he saw freedom. It requires enormous resilience and foresight to see the future and have belief that eventually things will work out for the good.

This is a watershed moment for all of us. Our decisions and actions will determine whether we use our pain, our grief and our outrage to move forward to what is the only lasting solution for our country – an elected government of the people, by the people and for the people. Because of extraordinary meritorious leadership qualities and commitment with the nation leaders like Nelson Mandela never fade in the course of history. For centuries he will remain a source of inspiration elsewhere. Unlike Mandela our leaders never want to face hardships for their nation and always prefer living in comfort. Our leaders never forgive their political opponents and wish to level scores as their main objective. Unlike Mandela our leaders when come in power badly turn revengeful. This is why we wasted time and national resources and couldn’t make significant progress on economic, diplomatic, political and moral grounds.

—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.

Email: [email protected]

Naveed Aman Khan

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Pakistan's Malala hails Mandela, 'my leader'

Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban to champion girls' rights to education, paid tribute to "my leader" Nelson Mandela on Friday, following his death.

The 16-year-old, who earlier this year was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize that Mandela won in 1993, said Mandela would "never die" and was a "perpetual inspiration" for people around the world.

"Nelson Mandela is physically separated from us but his soul and spirit will never die," Malala, who is now at school in Britain, said in a statement.

"He belongs to the whole world because he is an icon of equality, freedom and love, the values we need all the time everywhere. His long, long struggle is a great demonstration of humanity," she added.

"I have learned so much from Nelson Mandela and he has been my leader. He is a perpetual inspiration for me and millions of others around the world."

Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman on a school bus in October 2012, an attack that drew worldwide condemnation.

She underwent surgery in Britain, and since her recovery has become a leading educational campaigner.

In recent months Malala has won a series of prizes including the EU's Sakharov prize for human rights, which Mandela also won, while she missed out on the Nobel.

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Nelson Mandela and Pakistan

December 9, 2013

Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest human beings to ever have walked on this earth, died at the ripe old age of 95. His life has been an inspiration for hundreds of millions and his legacy is hope for the downtrodden and oppressed of this earth. Mandela, known lovingly by his tribal name Madiba, was a life lived in sacrifice and service for his people. He was a man who brought revolution, which changed the shape of a country and gave power back to the people to whom it belonged. The people who had been enslaved by the colonialists saw hope in the person of Mandela and he did not fail them. Mandela’s greatness does not lie in getting his people what anyway belonged to them but in his acute sense of justice and forgiving nature. He was the man who forgave the people who had enslaved his nation for hundreds of years and had imprisoned him for 27 long years. This kind of generosity and forgiveness needs a certain kind of character and Nelson Mandela was a living example of that. He not only forgave his oppressors but also decided to work with them for the betterment of his people and his country.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a brainchild of Mandela, is a small but successful part of his great legacy. Through the strategy of telling the truth and reconciling with it, Mandela gained what many nations have failed to gain after decades of warfare and unrest. People like Mandela are not for one age or one nation — they are there for all ages and all nations. He was a true leader and his power did not lie in vitriolic or empty slogans; he practiced what he preached and provided a role model for his fellow human beings all over the world. His clarity, kindness and forgiving nature make him stand tall over his contemporaries. He was a torchbearer of justice and equality for nations all over the world.

We in Pakistan have a lot to learn from this great man’s legacy. Pakistan stands at the crossroads of history as a nation of 200 million people, without direction, unity and leadership. We need our very own Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which can discover and tell the truth about our country’s 66-year history, a history that is marred with coups, a major civil war, human rights violations, discriminatory laws, bigotry and obscurantism. Once the truth is discovered, the next step could be seeking forgiveness and that can start from apologising to our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh for the crimes committed during the 1971 war. This commission can also ask people to come up, acknowledge and apologise for their roles in different military coups, destabilisation of elected governments and rigging elections. Pakistan as a state owes an apology to its religious minorities (I hate to use the word minority because religion should not be a scale for majority or minority) for all the atrocities that have been committed against these peace loving and patriotic communities in the name of religion.

If we as a nation want our country to be respected and to stand tall in the comity of nations we will have to end religious apartheid. Yes, I am calling it religious apartheid because Pakistan as a state treats minority religious groups as second-rate citizens, and this is apartheid! The state will have to treat all its citizens equally. In turn, all the citizens should have equal rights and opportunities to go as far as they want to in any sphere of life. This is the only way to move forward for us and this is the only path that we can take if we want to survive as a country.

Justice and equality for all will be the best way to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life. Let us, as a nation, come up with a new social contract for the state of Pakistan, a contract that does not favour a group of people based on their beliefs but treats all citizens of Pakistan equally. Let us make Pakistan a people’s republic where all people have equal rights, and, yes, all the people does include the 10 million non-Muslims of Pakistan. Let us make Pakistan a place where people can dream and live their dreams, let us make Pakistan a place where people are not hindered in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness because they belong to a certain religious community or sect. That will be the best tribute we as a nation can pay to the man who spent his life fighting for equality. Let us become a free nation signifying the meaning behind the words of Nelson Mandela: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

You ran a successful race. RIP Madiba.

The writer is a linguist and sociopolitical analyst

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Malala to deliver prestigious 21st nelson mandela annual lecture.

https://arab.news/zhsuv

• Pakistani Nobel laureate will be youngest person ever to speak at the prestigious forum
• Nelson Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Mandela in 1999

ISLAMABAD: The Nelson Mandela Foundation has announced that Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will deliver the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in December, becoming the youngest person ever to speak at the prestigious forum.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Mandela in 1999 to promote freedom and equality for all. Previous speakers at the annual lecture include United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, among others.

“Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai will deliver the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg on 5 December 2023,” the foundation announced in a statement on its website.

“Malala embodies the type of leadership we believe the world needs across all levels of society. In the face of current global challenges, which can seem daunting, she stands as an inspiring symbol of hope for a just and equitable future,” Nelson Mandela Foundation acting CE, Verne Harris, said.

We are honoured to announce that @Malala , Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has graciously accepted our invitation to deliver the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture. Scheduled for 5 December 2023, this lecture holds special significance as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of… pic.twitter.com/0rPWMQflzH — NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) October 2, 2023

This year’s annual lecture will seek to address key questions, including what kind of leadership is needed locally and globally, how to actualize the kind of leadership needed to achieve a more just future and what is the vision for a more just future.

Malala was ten years old when she began to write an anonymous diary for the BBC about life under Taliban rule in northwest Pakistan. In 2012, she was shot in the head by militants for advocating for girls education. 

In 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Her non-profit, the Malala Fund, funds education projects in multiple countries and works with international leaders and local partners to invest in innovative solutions on the ground and advocates globally for quality education for all girls.

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Pakistan’s new national firewall to target ‘propaganda and unwanted content,’ confirms official.

• IT ministry official plays down concerns of crackdown on social media content, says the step is taken to protect national security
• Experts call it an ‘Internet surveillance mechanism’ that can easily become a threat to individual privacy and freedom of expression

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is installing a national firewall to filter and block “propaganda and unwanted content” online, enhance its capacity to protect digital data from hackers and ensure cybersecurity, confirmed a top government official on Sunday, emphasizing the measure was not aimed at curtailing dissent on social media. A firewall is a network security device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security parameters. It constitutes a barrier that sits between a private internal network and the public Internet. The main purpose of a firewall is to allow non-threatening traffic in and to keep dangerous and undesirable traffic out. Pakistan’s Internet regulatory body, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), already possesses the technological ability to block unwanted content and prevent the access of local users to specific websites. However, the installation of the national firewall is expected enhance its capability to filter and monitor the Internet content on a wider scale. “The PTA is trying to enhance its capability through the installation of the national firewall to block propaganda, unwanted content on the Internet besides ensuring data protection and cybersecurity,” a top Ministry of Information Technology official told Arab News on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to media about the issue. “The PTA is installing the firewall to boost national security,” he added. “The Internet users should not worry about any crackdown or limiting their views and traffic.” Pakistan has frequently blocked the Internet and social media applications in the name of national security in recent years, prompting digital rights activists to express reservations over the firewall and its likely utilization to filter the social media content and stifle dissenting voices. “Try to see the firewall within a broader national interest perspective, not just from the social media prism,” the ministry official said, acknowledging the firewall could also be used for filtering and blocking the social media content. He noted that just the installation of the firewall was not going to be enough to achieve the objective, adding it would also require a complete infrastructure and mechanism to process and analyze the data and initiate further necessary corrective actions. However, he declined to reveal information about the cost and purchase of the firewall. “Every country is using the firewall to protect its data and national interest,” he continued. “Therefore, we should not worry about it.” The PTA did not respond to Arab News’ queries until the filing of this report. Information technology experts warned the advantages and disadvantages of a firewall would depend on its usage and the subsequent actions. “We could use this firewall to block our users’ access to content like Islamophobia and pornography while filtering out content spreading propaganda against our national institutions,” Muhammad Zohaib Khan, Chairman of Pakistan IT Industry Association, the main representative body for the country’s IT and IT-enabled services, told Arab News. “This will help us protect against cyberattacks against our digital assets.” He maintained the installation of the firewall was a “good step,” though he admitted its “benefits will depend on its use. “As long as it doesn’t hurt the IT industry, we support the initiative,” he added. Mubashir Sargana, a cybersecurity professional and an Internet public policy researcher, said the firewall would help the authorities identify the originator and recipients of specific content along with the whole chain involved in further spreading that it on social media and websites. “Specific hashtags and keywords will be entered to filter the content and get real time popups with which the authorities will be able to easily track down its originator and recipients,” he said. “This is basically an Internet surveillance mechanism that can easily become a threat to privacy and freedom of expression,” Sargana added. “Only time will tell if the authorities are going to use the firewall to boost cybersecurity or hound and curb online dissent.”

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Pakistan finance minister says ‘optimistic’ for ‘larger and longer’ imf bailout program in july.

• Muhammad Aurangzeb says virtual negotiations with the international lending agency are moving in a positive direction
• He also maintains Pakistan needs to work for the next three years to ensure that it never has to seek another IMF program

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed optimism on Sunday Pakistan would secure a “larger and longer” bailout agreement in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July, following the approval of the $67.76 billion federal budget. Pakistan began discussions about a new loan with IMF officials soon after completing a $3 billion program that helped the country stave off a sovereign debt default last year. The international lending agency sent its delegation to Pakistan in May to hold negotiations with the new government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also confirmed during a speech at the National Assembly on Tuesday that his administration had prepared the budget in consultation with the IMF, after repeatedly emphasizing the importance of securing another bailout facility to keep macroeconomic reforms on track. “I have already said we are moving in a positive way,” the finance minister said while discussing the fresh IMF program during a media interaction in the federal capital. “During July we should get into a good agreement.” “I am very optimistic that we will be able to take it through the finish line for an extended fund program, larger and longer in nature,” he added. Pakistan has sought IMF loans in recent years due to a combination of economic challenges, including significant fiscal and current account deficits, declining foreign exchange reserves and rising public debt. These economic vulnerabilities have been exacerbated by external shocks like fluctuating commodity prices and internal challenges such as political instability and policy inconsistency. The government has maintained the country’s economy is on the mend but considers the new bailout important to ensure a substantial financial cushion. The finance minister reiterated that he viewed the program being funded and supported by the IMF as part of Pakistan’s own endeavor to strengthen itself economically. “We need the IMF because not only these IFIs [international financial institutions] but even our firendly nations want a backstop which is the fund program,” he continued. “What we have to do in the next three years to make sure this is the last program.” He mentioned he had already been in virtual discussions with the IMF to move toward a staff-level agreement. Aurangzeb said the basic framework, including the prior actions, had been formulated while the IMF delegation was in Pakistan, saying that the structural benchmarks of the program had been the same for the last three or four years while Pakistan had not implemented. “Now we have told them to trust us and we will get this done,” he added.

Prominent Pakistani food manufacturer announces setting up UAE subsidiary

• Ismail Industries produces a diverse range of confectionery, biscuits, chips, flour 
• It includes Bisconni, the biscuit company, and popular candy maker Candyland

KARACHI: Ismail Industries Limited, a prominent food manufacturer and exporter in Pakistan, announced this week it would set up a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi after seeking the necessary regulatory approvals. Pakistani businesses and industries have been grappling for years with chronic issues like the shortage of electricity, gas and water. A deteriorating law and order situation in most parts of the country and particularly the commercial hub, Karachi, is also fueling uncertainty for businesses. Major trade bodies have also rejected the new tax heavy finance bill for the coming fiscal year amid an annual inflation projection of up to 13.5 percent for June. The budget comes into effect on Monday. “The Board of Directors (BoD) has resolved to establish/set-up a wholly owned subsidiary of the company in Abu Dhabi, UAE,” Ismail Industries said in a notice issued to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Friday, informing its shareholders that the subsidiary would manufacture, market, sell, and distribute all kinds of food, including biscuits and confectionery. “The company will accordingly seek all necessary regulatory approvals and proceed with the incorporation process once the same has been obtained.” Ismail Industries produces a diverse range of confectionery, biscuits, chips, flour, packaging and other items. It includes Bisconni, which offers an extensive range of premium biscuits and cookies, and Candyland, which was set up in 1998 and makes a wide array of candies, chocolates, jellies and bubble gums. Ismail Industries is ISO 22000 certified, a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization dealing with food safety. It is also certified by SANHA (South African National Halal Authority), a leading authority in the certification for Halal products around the world.

Pakistan president gives assent to tax-laden budget coming into effect tomorrow

• Bill comes ahead of more talks with IMF for fresh bailout loan 
• Opposition parties, major trade bodies have rejected the budget

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Finance Bill 2024-25 into law, state-run media reported on Sunday, with the newly announced tax-laden budget to go into effect from tomorrow, Monday, the beginning of the new fiscal year. Parliament passed the government’s finance bill on Friday amid an annual inflation projection of up to 13.5 percent for June. The bill comes ahead of more talks with the IMF for a loan of up to $8 billion to avert a debt default for Pakistan, the slowest-growing economy in South Asia. “President Asif Ali Zardari has given assent to the Finance Bill 2024-25 under Article 75 of the Constitution for next year’s federal budget,” Radio Pakistan said on Sunday. “The Finance Bill will be applicable from July 1.” The government presented the national budget on June 12 with a challenging tax revenue target of 13 trillion rupees ($46.66 billion) for the year starting July 1, up about 40 percent from the current year, to strengthen the case for a new rescue deal with the international money lender. The budget is gearing the country toward “an era of sustainable and inclusive growth,” a finance ministry report issued on Friday said, projecting annual consumer price inflation for June 2024 between 12.5 percent to 13.5 percent, up from 11.8 percent in May. The rise in the tax target is made up of a 48 percent increase in direct taxes and a 35 percent hike in indirect taxes over revised estimates of the current year. Non-tax revenue, including petroleum levies, is seen increasing by 64 percent. The tax would increase to 18 percent on textile and leather products as well as mobile phones besides a hike in the tax on capital gains from real estate. Workers will also get hit with more direct tax on income. Opposition parties, mainly parliamentarians backed by the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and top trade bodies have rejected the budget, saying it will be highly inflationary and lead to industry shutdowns.  Pakistan’s central bank has also warned of possible inflationary effects from the budget, saying limited progress in structural reforms to broaden the tax base meant increased revenue must come from hiking taxes. The upcoming year’s growth target has been set at 3.6 percent with inflation projected at 12 percent. Pakistan has projected a sharp drop in its fiscal deficit for the new financial year to 5.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), from an upwardly revised estimate of 7.4 percent for the current year. Since 2022, Islamabad has taken painful measures demanded by the IMF for the last bailout loan, which included hiking fuel and energy prices, causing prices of essential commodities to skyrocket. Inflation surged to 38 percent in May 2023 before dropping to a 30-month low of 11.8 percent in May 2024. With inputs from Reuters

Dubai-based food company explores opportunities in Pakistani corporate farming

• Bassam Karanouh, a partner of Dubai’s Caballero Foods, visited FonGrow farm in Khanewal
• Agricultural initiatives under Special Investment Facilitation Council are being administered by FonGrow

ISLAMABAD: Bassam Karanouh, a partner of the Dubai-based Caballero Foods company, visited the FonGrow agriculture and livestock farm in Khanewal city to explore opportunities in Pakistani corporate farming and promote “sustainable supply chains in the global meat market,” Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. Pakistan last year set up a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) — a civil-military hybrid forum — to attract foreign funding in agriculture, mining, information technology, defense production and energy as the South Asian country deals with a balance of payments crisis and requires billions of dollars in foreign exchange to finance its trade deficit and repay its international debts in the current financial year. Initiatives in the agriculture sector under SIFC are being administered by FonGrow, which is part of the Fauji Foundation investment group run by former Pakistani military officers. “A partner of Dubai Based Company Caballero Foods visited the FonGrow agriculture and livestock farm in Khanewal,” Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. “The purpose of the visit was to explore the sustainable supply chains in the global meat market as well as promote bilateral trade ties with Gulf countries.” The visiting company official was informed about the process of In Vitro Fertilization being used by FonGrow, in which an egg was fertilized outside the uterus of female cattle in a laboratory, resulting in the creation of multiple offspring from a healthy animal’s ovum.

“I would be glad to be the ambassador for Pakistan, for all the product they have, not only the meat because, I do believe in the product that they are producing,” Kakanouh said. In an interview to Arab News last year, the CEO of FonGrow said Pakistan was seeking up to $6 billion investment from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain over the next three to five years for corporate farming, with the aim of cultivating 1.5 million acres of previously unfarmed land and mechanizing existing 50 million acres of agricultural lands across the country. “We have estimated about $5-6 billion [investment from Gulf nations] for initial three to five years,” Major General (retired) Tahir Aslam, FonGrow’s managing-director and chief executive officer, told Arab News in an interview. He declined to share details about the breakdown of the investment from each individual country.  The CEO said the company was engaging with several Saudi companies like Al-Dahara, Saleh and Al-Khorayef to attract investment in the corporate farming sector.  Aslam said his company was also working on different investment models with the Saudi and UAE companies for corporate farming, including joint ventures.

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The Nelson Mandela Rules and the Criminal Justice System of Pakistan

18 th July is the date of birth of Nelson Mandela, an African leader who spent lot of time in prison during his political struggle. Named after him, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners have been styled, internationally, as the Nelson Mandela Rules. On his birthday, these Rules are discussed and commemorated internationally by the United Nations agencies especially the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC). This year was no different. The day was celebrated internationally and justice sector practitioners and civil society organizations along with academia held special sessions on discussing its implementation to their countries and regions. In Pakistan, the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) led by Ms. Sarah Belal organized different events. The programme by JPP examined the state of implementation of the Nelson Mandela Rules to Pakistan. In addition, various other organizations arranged events to underscore the importance of implementing these standards to Pakistan. In this context, it is apposite to systematically approach the subject for policy considerations by justice sector leadership in the country; different aspects can be elucidated under the following themes:

• Internationalisation of Criminal Justice

Legal philosophers like Kelsen and Professor H.L.A Hart of the University of Oxford had historically raised serious ontological questions about international law questioning the very nature of its legal content as it lacked any enforcement and coercive power. This, however, has changed after new developments in international law when the actors in international arena started acknowledging ‘individuals’ as a subject of international law. Since that time, there has been steady internationalization of criminal justice through soft international law that has nudged states to conform to international standards set, agreed and advocated by the international human rights lawyers. In this context, one reference is the Compendium of United Nations Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice published initially in 1992 and lately in 2016 by the UNODC. The Compendium is a collection of all these standards and norms and is a basic document to refer to find the content on the subject. The whole movement towards internationalization of criminal justice started in 1955 when first Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice was organized. The purpose of highlighting this point is that while in theory it is believed that every state exercises its sovereignty primarily through criminal law and procedure, there have been consistent efforts by leaders of international legal order to affect the municipal legal orders. This effort, at international level, can be evaluated by its impact. In terms of Pakistan’s constitutional scheme, it may be noted that item 32 of the Federal Legislative List in Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 obliges the Federal Government to implement the international treaties and agreements. Whether these international treaties include international soft law emanating out of resolutions and declarations of the General Assembly of the United Nations is a question that begs interpretation. Likewise, as Pakistan is a federation where criminal law and criminal justice are on concurrent field in light of articles 142 and 143 of the Constitution, it is yet to be seen whether prisons and corrections (being provincial entities) can be obliged to implement international minimum standards expounded by international legal instruments, which are less than a full-fledged treaty.

• Expansive Definition of Prisons

The discourse on criminal justice reforms in Pakistan is a specialized subject due to low rate of legal literacy and not very exemplary state of the rule of law. In this context, the Nelson Mandela Rules offers a very useful scheme that separates the categories of prisoners. The categories may be stated here to spur thinking and the expansive visualization of the rules to cover all categories of prisoners. The Rules are divided into two parts: part I deals with general rights of prisoners and contain standards that must be adhered to in establishing a prison system; part II deals with special categories of prisoners that include: (a) prisoners under sentence, (b) prisoners with mental disabilities/health conditions, (c) prisoners under arrest or awaiting trial (this includes persons arrested by police and persons sent to prison on judicial remand), (d) civil prisoners (very few in Pakistan’s legal system) and (e) persons under detention (see article 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan that envisages a detention regime along with arrest on criminal side and as per laws related to Punjab Maintenance of Public Order, 1960). Pakistan’s prison and police systems are governed and regulated by provincial governments, therefore, more advocacy at provincial level is required.

• Special Laws

Special laws on juvenile, women and transgender must be brought at par with minimum standards set by the Nelson Mandela Rules. For example, in the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, the rehabilitative aspects of juvenile prisoners are not detailed as required under the Nelson Mandela Rules. The special laws enacted by Provincial and Federal legislatures must try to conform to these standards and link the obligations with funding through budgetary grants to enable implementation as per international norms that are very much in line with humanistic, cultural and religious considerations of people in Pakistan.

Empowering Communities Through Rule of Law

The talk on reforms in criminal justice system is already on the brink as communities are running out of patience and the results are not impressive. In his book titled as ‘the End of Policing’, Alex S. Vitale talked about limits of police reforms. His observation about police reforms is interesting and can be adapted for general discourse on transforming the criminal justice system of Pakistan. He noted:

“Any real agenda for police reform must replace police with empowered communities working to solve their own problems…Communities must directly confront the political, economic, and social arrangements that produce the vast gulfs between the races and the growing gaps between the have and have-nots…”

The empowering of communities, in Pakistan’s context, can best happen by mainstreaming the rule of law. A rule based order with arbiters of integrity can bring qualitative changes in criminal justice system. For this, the rule of law must be the guiding principle. The criminal justice system, which is essentially provincial in its orientation must be brought at par in all provinces and the federation should take lead in providing ecology favouring the rule of law as per its obligation under article 143 of the Constitution. The other limb of empowering communities surely lies with introduction of a detailed local government system that interacts with criminal justice system in collaborative manner. For this, the constitutional imperatives of articles 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan has been subject of much adjudication and debate.

Author:  Kamran Adil

Mr. Kamran Adil is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Research Society of International Law. He is currently serving as Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Punjab Police.

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The Footsteps of Nelson Mandela Tour

Johannesburg · kwazulu-natal · cape town · cape winelands · history and politics.

The following tour will provide travellers with a unique opportunity to journey in the footsteps of a global icon, the late former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

In addition to following in the footsteps of Tata Madiba, the tour will also shed light into the lives of key political luminaries such as Gandhi, Chief Albert Luthuli, John Dube, Steve Biko and countless other activities and freedom fighters who took strides in the long and arduous journey toward a democratic South Africa.

The Footsteps of Nelson Mandela Tour takes travellers across South Africa, beginning in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town. During this 13 day tour, travellers will visit prominent points of interest that each tell a part of the story of Mandela’s long walk to freedom for South Africa’s liberation.

You Will Love

• Gaining a thorough understanding of the story of South Africa’s struggle for freedom under the oppressive apartheid rule.
• Visiting a plethora of prominent museums, monuments and points of interest that each add immense value in understanding South Africa’s past.
• Travelling across the beautiful country of South Africa and exploring a number of the most highly acclaimed attractions.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: fairlawns boutique hotel , johannesburg.

After arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, transfer to Fairlawns Boutique Hotel to check in. Enjoy a relaxing evening at leisure.

Day 2: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel , Johannesburg

After breakfast, proceed to Liliesleaf Farm. The headquarters of the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), Liliesleaf Farm was used in secret by Nelson Mandela and ANC activists during the struggle. In July 1963, a police raid led to the arrest of a number of ANC figures, and to the subsequent Rivonia Treason Trial. After Liliesleaf Farm, continue to Soweto. Famed as the site of the Soweto Uprising where, in 1976, police opened fire on some 10 000 students who marched in protest of the apartheid government’s policy to enforce Afrikaans and replace native languages in the education system. In Soweto, visit Nelson Mandela House on Vilakazi Street, where the former President lived with his family, pay tribute to the Soweto Uprising victims at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, created to commemorate the life of a teenager shot and killed during the riots, and finally, visit the Regina Mundi Church.

Day 3: The Oyster Box , KwaZulu-Natal

After breakfast, check out of Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and travel to the Apartheid Museum to embark on a guided tour of the highly acclaimed space that illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Here, a number of exhibitions tell the dramatic story of the brutal state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination, and the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny.

In the afternoon travel to O.R. Tambo International Airport for a flight to KwaZulu-Natal. Upon arrival, transfer to Luthuli Museum and begin a tour of this fascinating space. As president of the African National Congress until his death in 1967, Chief Albert Luthuli received the 1960 Nobel Prize for Peace.

Next, travel to the Phoenix Settlement where Mahatma Gandhi conceptualised his philosophy of passive resistance against injustice. Then, continue to Ohlange Institute founded by an extraordinary man, John Dube, who became the first president of the African National Congress in 1912. After a busy day, head to the Oyster Box to overnight.

Day 4: The Old Hatchery, KwaZulu-Natal

Following breakfast, depart The Oyster Box and travel to Pietermaritzburg. After driving through the main street, stop at the railway station where Gandhi was forcibly removed from the first class carriage in 1893. This marked the start of his politicisation and his Passive Resistance campaign. After a brief visit at the Tatham Art Gallery, enjoy the sights of the beautiful Howick falls from a viewing platform.

Continuing the tour, travel to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. In 1952, after 17 months of being hunted by authorities and living incognito, it was here that Nelson Mandela was arrested for his activism against the Apartheid government. After a tour of the Capture Site, enjoy a drive through the beautiful countryside of Underberg.

Day 5: The Old Hatchery, KwaZulu-Natal

After a lovely breakfast, venture to the little town of Underberg situated at the foot of the Drakensberg escarpment. Here, change vehicles to a dirt road 4×4 and begin the ascent on the highest road pass in Africa, the Sani Pass. Enjoy the absolutely breathtaking scenery and plenty of incredible photo opportunities along the way.

Travel through the Kingdom in the Sky, Lesotho, and enjoy a lunch at the Highest Pub in Africa.

Day 6: Mthatha Holiday Inn, KwaZulu-Natal

With an early start, enjoy the scenic drive to Mthatha. After arrival, check-in and enjoy a light lunch at the hotel, travel to Qunu, Nelson Mandela’s hometown where he returned after 27 years of imprisonment. As well as visiting the Nelson Mandela Museum and the youth and heritage centre, travellers spend the day exploring the area where Nelson Mandela grew up.

Day 7: Addo Elephant National Park, Port Elizabeth

After breakfast, depart Mthatha for King William’s Town to visit the Steve Biko Memorial and the Garden of Remembrance. Founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, which would empower and mobilise much of the urban black population, Steve Biko’s life and work as a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement are remembered and honoured here.

Continue to Port Elizabeth to the third largest National Park in South Africa, the Addo Elephant National Park. Home to a plethora of wildlife species enjoy a wonderful afternoon game drive in this wildlife sanctuary.

Day 8: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

After an early morning game drive through the park and breakfast, travel to Port Elizabeth Airport to connect with a flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival in the Mother City, transfer to the Commodore Hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Day 9: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

Following breakfast, travel to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and embark on a boat ride to Robben Island. Famed for its detention of prisoners, including scores of political leaders and anti-apartheid activists during the struggle years, Robben Island prison is one of two sites of Mandela’s detainment during his 27 years of imprisonment.

On the island, embark on a guided tour of the prison, including Mandela’s cell, the limestone quarry and the museum. After the tour, return to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for lunch.

Day 10: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

A fascinating day in Cape Town kicks off with a trip to the top of Table Mountain. After breakfast, travel to the lower cableway station and take a cable car ride to the summit to enjoy the spectacular views of the city and surrounds. In the event of inclement weather, the tour will divert instead to Signal Hill.

Next, embark on a tour of Cape Town city, visiting prominent points of interest including the Bo-Kaap and District Six areas. Return to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 11: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

Travel to the Drakenstein Correctional Centre, formerly the Victor Verster Prison, for a tour of the correctional facility. Here, Nelson Mandela spent his last 18 months in incarceration before his release.

After the tour, travel to the beautiful Cape Winelands to enjoy a delicious lunch and wine tasting in one of the Cape’s popular winemaking regions, either Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.

Day 12: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

Depart the hotel and travel along the Atlantic coastline, passing the popular beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno en route to the fishing village of Hout Bay. Here, embark on an optional boat ride to view a seal colony on Duiker Island.

Continue to the Table Mountain National Park, Cape of Good Hope section to explore this fascinating Cape Point heritage site. Take a stroll to the lighthouse and stop to admire the breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains.

Next, travel along the False Bay coastline to Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town to visit a colony of African penguins before visiting the final stop, either the esteemed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens or the popular wine estate, Groot Constantia.

Day 13: Commodore Hotel , Cape Town

Our recommendations:.

• Extend your stay in Cape Town and enjoy touring the Mother City for a few days longer.

Book this tour now!

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Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela’s Visit to the United States and Washington, D.C. (1990) By Sylvia I.B. Hill

Nelson Mandela with Sylvia Hill and Gay McDougall

“Free Nelson Mandela”

We had spent years organizing and participating in boycotts, legislative advocacy, divestment campaigns, material aid campaigns for the armed struggle of the African National Congress liberation movement and southern African refugees, and marches to the chant “Free Mandela”!

Then, on February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela walked to freedom after 27 years of imprisonment.

I cheered and cried with my comrades Cecelie Counts and Sandra Hill of the Free South Africa Movement as we watched the early morning television coverage of Mandela’s “freedom walk” away from prison and into crowds of jubilant South African supporters. This moment was the victory of the worldwide struggle to support the people of South Africa in their quest to dismantle apartheid.

Organizing Mandela’s Tour of the United States

By the early spring of 1990, journalist-activist Roger Wilkins phoned me to see if I would be willing to work with him and Harry Belafonte to organize the historic visit of Nelson Mandela to the United States. The visit was to take place in June 1990—just a few short months away. Roger explained that Harry Belafonte had phoned him to say that the African National Congress’ (ANC) chief representative to the United States, Lindiwe Mabuza, had been asked by Oliver Tambo, president of the ANC, to request that Harry lead the effort to craft the itinerary of the visit.

Belafonte said he immediately thought of Roger since he had worked with the steering committee of the Free South Africa Movement (FSAM) campaign of civil disobedience at the South Africa Embassy in Washington, D.C. Roger said he immediately decided that he needed both Cecelie Counts and me to become the Associate Directors to assist him with organizing an eight-city visit to the United States!

Sylvia Hill, Harry Belafonte, Roger Wilkins, and Julie Belafonte traveled with Nelson and Winnie Mandela during their historic first vist to the USA June, 1990.

We advised Roger to hire Joanne Favors as his administrative assistant. She had worked with me organizing the North American delegation to the Sixth Pan-African Congress in 1974. As he began assembling his team, Roger happened to encounter Michael Jackson, a congressional staffer working in Senator Ted Kennedy’s office. Jackson advised us to treat Mandela’s visit like a presidential campaign. He suggested that we hire Reta Lewis, Esq., who had considerable presidential campaign experience. This advice was critical to the success of this historic visit because it greatly reduced our trial-and-error learning. Reta immediately identified the organizing infrastructure we would need nationally and identified the experienced advance people and number crunchers we would need to make sure that there would be local press and crowds of people to greet the delegation in each city.

Both Roger Wilkins and Harry Belafonte were key leadership selections because they had friends and political connections that were essential to building our financial capacity to fund this historic visit. Aside from having to contract with an airline to provide travel and in-flight food services to eight cities, we would need funding for all of the expenses of the delegation as well as the organizing infrastructure. Both men proved to be very capable and artful in fundraising and negotiating the various political interests that emerged. Plus, they had the historical legacy and political stature that received return phone calls when they called!

As Harry observed in his seminal autobiography, My Song: A Memoir , “In those eleven days, I watched saints become devils and devils become saints.” ((Belafonte, Harry with Michael Shnayerson. My Song: A Memoir . New York: Alfred Knopf, 2011: 398.)) Everyone wanted personal time with Mandela, while we wanted to protect his health and safety as we crisscrossed the United States. Finally, we identified the tour cities: New York City; Boston, Mass.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; an AFSCME labor convention near Miami, Fla.; Detroit, Mich.; and Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. In each city, we tried to have local organizing committees hosted by the political leadership, women’s groups, youth groups, and labor unions as well as a large public gathering to hear and see Mr. Mandela, Mrs. Winnie Mandela, and the ANC delegation. In addition, we had to accommodate local, national, and international press.

The Politics

As an organizing team, we were very conscious that this visit had to affirm Mr. Mandela’s political mandate to assume leadership in negotiations with the apartheid de Klerk regime. We wanted to do this by having large crowds of U.S. citizens display national admiration and support for Mr. Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and the African National Congress as a legitimate political force to assume State power. The ANC presented the following objectives for the trip:

• The purpose of the tour was to thank the American people for their support during Mr. Mandela’s years in jail and their tireless support of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
• Also, the delegation sought to impress upon the American people, the U.S. President and the U.S. Congress the need to maintain sanctions against South Africa until irreversible and meaningful change, as determined by all the People of South Africa, had occurred.
• Equally important was the call for the establishment of an interim government and Constituent Assembly, selected on democratic principles from South Africans of all walks of life, to draw up a new Constitution. ((Draft notes from planning meeting with ANC mission.))

The Tour Begins

Finally, after a stopover in Canada, the delegation arrived in New York on June 20. After a brief welcoming by New York political leadership, anti-apartheid groups, and union representatives, we left with the delegation. As we departed John F. Kennedy Airport on our way to the cities, crowds of people lined up along the sides and leaned out of their apartment buildings cheering, waving cloths and placards with welcoming signs, and holding their children up to get a glimpse of Mr. Mandela! I smiled and thought that the work of the crowd crunchers and the years of work of all the anti-apartheid organizations were very visible!

Once in New York City, the delegation’s first stop was to meet a youth group who were overjoyed to meet Mr. Mandela! Next, we held a press conference where Randall Robinson, president of TransAfrica and one the leaders of the Free South Africa Movement (FSAM), formally welcomed Mr. Mandela and the delegation.

Randall Robinson founding Executive Director of TransAfrica

Throughout the New York visit, the delegation met with church groups and political groups from Brooklyn to Manhattan! The ticker-tape parade was one of the largest gatherings of admirers from the Tri-State area that New York had ever witnessed!

As we moved across the nation, the crowds increased significantly, and public support for the political aims of the African National Congress grew more expressive!

Washington, D.C.

In D.C., the local organizing committee consisted of Sandra Hill, Gaye McDougall, Esq., Karen Spellman, Acie Byrd, and a host of other foot soldiers who had worked with the Southern Africa Support Project (SASP), anti-apartheid groups, or Gaye’s mobilization of lawyers to challenge apartheid.

While in Washington, Mr. Mandela met with President George H.W. Bush and addressed a joint session of Congress. He also met with the Congressional Black Caucus members, other congressional allies, the FSAM steering committee, and TransAfrica’s board members and staff. In addition, he met with anti-apartheid activists and the local organizers of the major public event held on June 27, 1990, at the Washington Convention Center. It was hosted by Mayor Marion Barry and featured performances by a variety of musicians like Gil Scott Heron and others before the dynamic speech by Nelson Mandela. The event attracted over 32,000 supporters, who waited in long lines to welcome Nelson and Winnie Mandela.

One of Mr. Mandela’s special joys during his D.C. visit was his early morning walking exercises with the late Issac Fulwood (1940 – 2017), who was the second Black chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department (July 1989 – September 1992) and an advocate of policing in support of the exercise of First Amendment protest rights.

As Mr. Mandela’s advance person, I spent considerable time with him; I was impressed by his personal discipline, respect for time, congeniality, and political purpose throughout his trip. When Mr. Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and the delegation departed the U.S. on June 30, 1990, for Ireland, we knew as we shared hugs and goodbyes that a new phase of the struggle was beginning in what he often referred to as “the long walk to freedom.”

Election Day 1994, in South Africa

Dr. Sylvia Hill is an educator, co-chairperson of the Southern Africa Support Project, and leader of both the Free South Africa Movement and the Sixth Pan-African Congress.

Copyright © 2020 Sylvia Hill. All rights reserved. Photos from Sylvia Hill archives.

[1] Belafonte, Harry with Michael Shnayerson. My Song: A Memoir . New York: Alfred Knopf, 2011: 398.

[2]  Draft notes from planning meeting with ANC mission.

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Remembering Mandela: South Africa president’s 1995 state visit to UAE

Former south african ambassador to the uae reminisces about how nelson mandela touched the hearts of the working class people he met on his visit to abu dhabi..

Nelson Mandela meets with the late Sheikh Zayed on a state visit in 1995. Courtesy of Al Ittihad

ABU DHABI // Rafique Gangat was posted to Abu Dhabi as the new South African ambassador to the UAE in early 1995.

The diplomat had barely landed when news arrived that his president, Nelson Mandela, would be paying a state visit to the UAE in March that same year.

In his book, Ye Shall Bowl on Grass, Mr Gangat describes how his first order of business was to ensure the military band learnt the new South African anthem.

“I learnt that during a prior visit to Bahrain, the local military band played only the old anthem and president Mandela was livid,” he said.

To many South Africans the old anthem, Die Stem, was a reminder of the apartheid regime they had suffered under since 1948.

In his trademark wisdom, Mandela did not abolish the song. Instead, he asked that it be rewritten to include verses of an African hymn, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica.

The move was a perfect example of his commitment to reconcile all South Africans, regardless of race, culture or past sins.

“I spent the better part of the previous night convincing the military band that they needed to learn to play half and half,” Mr Gangat said.

When the South African president stepped off the plane, he was greeted not only by Sheikh Zayed, but also by a rousing rendition of the new anthem.

After initial introductions, Mandela and his adviser, Ahmed Kathrada, who had shared a cell with him on Robben Island for many years, were whisked off to the Royal Guest Palace to prepare for the evening’s state dinner.

“I had the privilege of witnessing the stature and charm of the man from a vantage point and couldn’t help but marvel at his humility with all the attention fostered on him,” Mr Gangat said.

The following day, the ambassador was asked to be up at the crack of dawn to accompany Mandela on a morning walk along the Corniche.

The walkway was sealed off to traffic, save for a few gardeners and street cleaners who stopped their work when they recognised the president.

“When one of them loudly exclaimed, ‘Mandela!’, the president walked up to him and shook his hand inquiring, ‘Where are you from?’,” Mr Gangat said.

The cleaner said he was from Pakistan, to which Mandela responded: “I met prime minister Bhutto and she is a very beautiful woman.”

“The local security personnel were not accustomed to VIP guests fraternising with the working class,” Mr Gangat said. “I had to impress upon them that this was Nelson Mandela, the working-class hero.”

After returning to the palace, the president was preparing for another meeting with Sheikh Zayed when he noticed the fine job done by whoever had pressed his suit.

“Who ironed my suit?” Mandela asked Mr Gangat, who did not know the answer.

“He showed me the lines and cuffs, and how well it was ironed and insisted that he needed to thank the person. I told him, ‘I shall do that later, but now we have the president waiting and we need to go’,” Mr Gangat said.

“But Mandela insisted and I gave in to his resolute demand. I quickly instituted an inquiry to determine the whereabouts of the person who ironed the president’s suit, and we both walked to the laundry room, which was quite a distance away.

“We were met by a young Indian man busy ironing linen, and when he looked up, he simply exclaimed, ‘Mandela!’, at which the president took his hand and thanked him sincerely for the excellent job.

“To our surprise, the young man started to cry and when Mandela asked, ‘Why are you crying?’, he replied, ‘No one has ever thanked me, and I don’t believe that Mandela is thanking me’.

“They were tears of joy, and I must add that I was also touched by this sincere gesture and was a bit choked up, too.”

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Nelson Mandela International Day

July 18 , Thursday

Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18 July 2009.

Nelson Mandela International Day in other years

• 2021 July 18 , Sunday
• 2022 July 18 , Monday
• 2023 July 18 , Tuesday
• 2025 July 18 , Friday

Nelson Mandela International Day in other countries

• Afghanistan
• American Samoa
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Cook Islands
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Falkland Islands
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• French Guiana
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• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Helena
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• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Saint-Barthelemy
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Sint Maarten
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Pierre and Miquelon
• Switzerland
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara

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Books, kitchen, TV: Pak government submits details on Imran Khan's prison life

The pakistan government released pictures of the jail room of former prime minister imran khan, showing a bedroom with a study table, a kitchen and books, including nelson mandela's autobiography, to counter claims of mistreatment inside prison..

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• Pakistan government details Imran Khan's jail conditions
• Photos released show books, kitchen, TV, bedroom, cooler kept inside prison
• Imran Khan's party claims mistreatment inside prison and solitary confinement

Pakistan's government submitted to the Supreme Court on Thursday details of the living conditions of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, seeking to rebuff his claim of mistreatment and of being held in solitary confinement without access to lawyers.

The government submission seen by Reuters included photographs of the cell that showed a collection of books, including Nelson Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom", apparently intended to highlight Khan's freedom to read what he wished in jail.

The submission also contained a list of family and friends, lawyers and party members who have seen Khan since he was jailed in August last year on corruption charges. Khan, 71, is also fighting dozens of other cases that he and his party say are politically motivated to thwart his return to power.

The government asked the court in its submission to appoint a judicial officer to verify the facts.

Khan complained to the court last week that he was being kept in solitary confinement without access to his lawyers.

In an appearance before the court via video link later on Thursday, Khan asked Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to have his cell conditions inspected.

Isa said he would appoint a commission to pay a surprise visit to the prison cell.

Khan's party stood by its claim that he had been mistreated and added that the pictures included were of the cell where Khan was being kept in solitary confinement.

"It is a contradiction to the claim that a former prime minister is entitled to an A-class cell with an air-conditioned room and a helper to attend to the errands," his party said in response to the submission.

The pictures in the government submission showed a messy bedroom with a study table, a chair, a single bed, a cooler, a washbasin next to a washroom in the corner, with a flat TV screen hung on a wall. It shows shirts thrown on the back of the chair and trousers, pants and a towel hung on a wall.

Another picture shows a long walkway with barracks on both sides, describing it as an "exclusive gallery for walking twice a day".

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