DATE=12/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242341
TITLE=PAKISTAN / BHUTTO (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN'S OPPOSITION LEADER, BENAZIR BHUTTO, IS 
APPEALING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO STOP PRIME MINISTER 
NAWAZ SHARIF FROM INTRODUCING A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IN PAKISTAN 
SIMILAR TO WHAT THE TALEBAN HAS INSTALLED IN AFGHANISTAN.  SARAH 
HORNER HAS THE DETAILS FROM ISLAMABAD.

TEXT:  BENAZIR BHUTTO SAYS SHE HAS WRITTEN TO HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
AND TO LEADERS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES, INCLUDING BRITISH PRIME 
MINISTER TONY BLAIR.

IN HER LETTER, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER URGES THOSE SHE HAS 
CONTACTED TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ 
SHARIF.  MS BHUTTO SAYS MR SHARIF SHOULD BE TOLD THAT "THE 
TALEBAN-LIKE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS AS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN PAKISTAN AS IT IS IN AFGHANISTAN."

THE TALEBAN'S STRICT INTERPRETATION OF ISLAMIC LAW HAS BROUGHT 
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS FOR ALLEGED MURDERERS AND HAND AND FOOT 
AMPUTATIONS FOR ALLEGED THIEVES.  TALEBAN RELIGIOUS POLICE 
REGULARLY PATROL THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL, BEATING WOMEN WHO 
VIOLATE THE STRICT DRESS CODE AND MEN WHO DO NOT GROW LONG 
BEARDS.

MS. BHUTTO SAYS THE PROPOSAL FOR A TALEBAN SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, IF 
IMPLEMENTED, WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE 15TH AMENDMENT BILL, 
RECENTLY PROPOSED BY PRIME MINISTER SHARIF.  THE BILL HAS ALREADY
BEEN PASSED BY PAKISTAN'S LOWER PARLIAMENTARY HOUSE, BUT HAS YET 
TO GO THROUGH THE UPPER HOUSE.

THE 15TH AMENDMENT, IF APPROVED BY THE UPPER HOUSE, WOULD ALTER 
PAKISTAN'S CONSTITUTION TO MAKE ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW THE SUPREME 
LAW. THE MOVE HAS BEEN OPPOSED BY PAKISTANI HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, 
ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AND OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES.
THEY SAY THE AMENDMENT IS AIMED AT GIVING DICTATORIAL POWERS TO 
THE PRIME MINISTER.

MS BHUTTO SAYS THE 15TH AMENDMENT IS A DANGEROUS EXPLOITATION OF 
ISLAM.  IN AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF AMNESTY 
INTERNATIONAL, THE OPPOSITION LEADER HAS DRAWN ATTENTION TO WHAT 
SHE SAYS IS A DETERIORATING HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN.

IN THE LETTER, MS BHUTTO APPEALS TO THE LONDON-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANISATION TO URGENTLY CONFRONT MR SHARIF'S PLANS.  AMNESTY HAS
OFTEN CRITICISED THE TALEBAN, WHICH CONTROLS 90 PER CENT OF 
PAKISTAN'S NEIGHBOR, AFGHANISTAN.

PRIME MINISTER SHARIF, WHO IS CURRENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES, 
REPORTEDLY ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO INTRODUCE A TALEBAN SYSTEM 
OF JUSTICE DURING A PUBLIC SPEECH LAST MONTH TO TRIBAL LEADERS IN
PAKISTAN'S FRONTIER AREAS. (SIGNED)

NEB/SLH/KL

01-Dec-98 8:01 AM EST (1301 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.