Letter to Pakistani Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani

Posted by CODEPINK Staff

February 15, 2014

His Excellency Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani

Pakistani Embassy

Washington DC

Dear His Excellency Ambassador Jilani,

We are writing to you on a matter of great urgency regarding the disappearance of Kareem Khan, a drone strike victim who was scheduled to appear before various European Parliaments in the coming week. He was seized in the early hours of 5 February 2014 from his home in Rawalpindi by 15-20 armed men, some of whom were wearing Pakistani police uniforms. A 34-member US delegation met with Mr. Khan when we visited Pakistan in October 2012 and consider him a friend.We are most concerned about his safety.

His disappearance comes just over a week before his visit to various European Parliaments, and, therefore, has raised real concern that his disappearance may in some way be related to his visit. We sincerely hope this is not the case. He was due to give testimony about a drone strike that killed both his son, Zaenullah, and his brother Asif Iqbal, which occurred on New Year’s Eve of 2009. This case has obvious United States implications, as Mr Khan was a victim of the United States’ program of drone strikes that killed his son and brother.

We therefore respectfully request that you raise this issue at the highest levels in Pakistan and that Mr. Khan’s disappearance is investigated as a matter of urgency. We are confident that your swift intervention will result in Karim’s immediate release.

 

We look forward to hearing back from you and thank you kindly for your attention to this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

Medea Benjamin                                                                                 Tighe Barry

Cofounder, Code Pink: Women for Peace                                     Global Exchange

Tel 415-235-6517