Upon receiving this assurance, Akhtar broke his hunger strike with a glass of mango juice. Raja Jahangir Akhtar later vowed, “This is not the end. I am to go all over Pakistan to create awareness, so that one day, we can become a welfare state.”
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Result of 9 days of hunger Strike
Upon receiving this assurance, Akhtar broke his hunger strike with a glass of mango juice. Raja Jahangir Akhtar later vowed, “This is not the end. I am to go all over Pakistan to create awareness, so that one day, we can become a welfare state.”
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Update of 5th day of Hunger Strike
As Raja Jahangir’s hunger strike against corruption entered its fifth day on Friday, eminent historian Mubarak Ali noted in a press release that Pakistan is facing challenges from corruption, lawlessness, terrorism, insecurity of life and property and increasing army expenditure, which deprives the common people of their basic rights.
The resources that should be spent on the provision of education and health facilities to the people of Pakistan are not being utilised on these sectors due to heavy expenditures on the military and prevailing corruption, the press release said.
Ali closed by saying that this protest comes at a time when our political parties and leaders are engaged in personal infighting and have shown little regard for public problems and deprivation, leaving the people they represent at the mercy of the elements.
Although Akthar’s blood sugar dropped 70 mmol/l on Thursday, he continued his strike on Friday and was in good spirits, interacting with a number of visitors and supporters at his camp. However, he has been forgetful, according to his doctor and some of his supporters, which is likely linked with his lack of food intake.
Around 30 members of Pakistan Youth Forum from different area of Pakistan arrived to show their support and a silent protest was also organised in Super Market, across the road from the protest camp, where supporters of the cause held a large banner and placards calling for the acceptance of Akhtar’s demands in their entirety
Friday, September 16, 2011
Update of 4th day of Hunger Strike
Blood sugar level of hunger striker Raja Jahangir Akhtar went below 70 mmol/l on Thursday.
Raja Akhtar is on ‘Hunger Strike Till Death’ since Sept 12 to press for his demands for passage of his anti-graft bill by Pakistani Parliament and establishment of a democratic welfare state.
According to his personal physician Raja Akhtar's blood pressure had also started fluctuating and he was also suffering from memory problems.
A torch bearing procession of his supporters marched from hunger strike camp to the office of national TV channel, which they complained was not covering their struggle to ‘save Pakistan and save Raja Akhtar’s life’.
A 30-member of delegation of Progressive Youth Forum, drawn from all parts of the country also met Raja Jahagnir Akhtar to express their solidarity with his cause. They also took part in the torch bearing procession.
Prominent political and civil society activists also called on Raja Akhtar to express their support and solidarity. Muhammad Hussain Gopang and Ashraf Samaa of PPP(Shaheed Bhutto),Nageen Hayaat of Women Action Forum, Mian Anwar Pasha of PML-N and local trader Muhammad Asif,a local were prominent among those who met the hunger striker on Thursday. Mr Abid Hassan Manto, President Pakistan Workers Party, will meet the hunger striker on September 18.
Electronic and print media teams remained busy preparing reports on activities at the hunger strike camp. They also interviewed Raja Akhtar and some of his supporters. Live coverage of Raja Akhtar's camp continued on his blogwww.rajaakhtar.blogspot.co
Raja Akhtar is on ‘Hunger Strike Till Death’ since Sept 12 to press for his demands for passage of his anti-graft bill by Pakistani Parliament and establishment of a democratic welfare state.
According to his personal physician Raja Akhtar's blood pressure had also started fluctuating and he was also suffering from memory problems.
A torch bearing procession of his supporters marched from hunger strike camp to the office of national TV channel, which they complained was not covering their struggle to ‘save Pakistan and save Raja Akhtar’s life’.
A 30-member of delegation of Progressive Youth Forum, drawn from all parts of the country also met Raja Jahagnir Akhtar to express their solidarity with his cause. They also took part in the torch bearing procession.
Prominent political and civil society activists also called on Raja Akhtar to express their support and solidarity. Muhammad Hussain Gopang and Ashraf Samaa of PPP(Shaheed Bhutto),Nageen Hayaat of Women Action Forum, Mian Anwar Pasha of PML-N and local trader Muhammad Asif,a local were prominent among those who met the hunger striker on Thursday. Mr Abid Hassan Manto, President Pakistan Workers Party, will meet the hunger striker on September 18.
Electronic and print media teams remained busy preparing reports on activities at the hunger strike camp. They also interviewed Raja Akhtar and some of his supporters. Live coverage of Raja Akhtar's camp continued on his blogwww.rajaakhtar.blogspot.co
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Update of 3rd day of Hunger Strike
Prominent leader of Pakistan Peolple Party Ch Aitzaz Ahsan and renowned legal experts Athar Minallah met Raja Jahangir Akhtar
at his hunger strike camp here on Wednesday.
Raja Akhtar is on 'Hunger Strike Till Death' since September 12 to press for his demands to have an anti-graft bill passed by
Pakistan's Parlaiment and establishment of a democratic welfare state as envisioned by Quad e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other veterans
of freedom movement.
Ch Aitzaz Ahsan while talking to media persons present on the occasion said that Raja Jahangir Akhtar was a bold political worker
who had a long history of observing successful hunger strikes.He recalled that Raja Akhtar observed a successful hunger strike to force
Musharaf regime lift curbs on movement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry's children during the historic
lawyers movement.Athar Minallah while speaking on the ocassion supported Raja Akhtar's demands and assured the hunger striker to carry
his message to the lawyers community.
Meanwhile Mr Abdus Satar a local leader of Awami Party Pakistan ended his 24-hour token hunger strike he started on Sept in support of Raja Akhtar's
demands. A delegation of Pakistan Brohi Party also met the hunger striker to assure their support for his demands.Other prominent
political and civil society activists and student leaders who called on Raja Akhtar included Dr Farzana Bari, NSF Punjab General Secretary Ms.Alia Ameer Ali and former PTI Secretary Punjab Khwaja Saleem.
Pir Mahmood Shah, a known social activist of Green Town Wah Cant announced to go on 24-hour token hunger strike in support of Raja
Jahangir Akhtar.
A size able number of local TV channels and print media teams interviewed Raja Akhtar to highlight his decision to go on 'Hunger Strike Till Death' .
A live coverage of activities at the hunger strike camp was arranged at www.rajajahangir.blogspot.com and his facebook
account (facebook\rajajahangirakhtar\fanpage).Though live coverage was interrupted by rain Wednesday evening,hunger strike camp managers were busy resuming the coverage for Raja's fans and supporters.
Raja Akhtar's campaign against corruption and for establishment of welfare democratic state is picking pace as his 'Hunger Strike Till Death'
will enter 4th day on Thursday.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
'Hunger Strike Till Death' of renowned political and social activist Raja Jahangir Akhtar entered the 2nd day here on Tuesday September 13.
Tehreek e Insaf chairman Imran Khan who visited Raja Akhtar's hunger strike camp yesterday (Monday,September 12) announced full support of his party for legislation of anti-corruption bill and establishment of a democratic welfare state in Pakistan.
A number of delagations belonging to different trade unions and civil society organizations called on Raja Jahangir Akhtar today(Tuesday September 13) and assured him of their whole hear ted support for the cause for which Raja had decided to lay down his life.
A number of representatives of Youth organizations also called on Raja Akhtar to express solidarity with his cause.Senator Anwar Baig and former MNA Sarwar Khan were also among those who met Raja Akhtar and announced their support.
The representatives of different trade unions and servise society organizations who met Raja Akhtar to express their solidarity included Farhat Kamal Pasha,General Secretary CDA Employees Union,Ms Farzana Bari,Mr Jamil Abbasi,Mr Fayyaz Baqir,Mr Amir Raheel and others.They also signed the banner on which Imran Khan and Senator Bazinjo had left their signatue in support of Raja Akhtar's demand.
Raja Akhtar's hunger strike camp remained heavily crowded woth his supporters till late Tuesday night.His personal physician declared him physically fit to continue his hunger strike.About Raja Jahangir
Due to the plague that our Country is infected with, Raja Jahangir Akhtar has announced to go on a hunger strike until death against Corruption and high military expenditures which our economy cannot afford. He demands that Anti Corruption Laws be introduced by the Legislature and enforced through the Courts immediately against every one found guilty including politicians, bureaucrats, personnel of the Armed forces who have and are indulging in corrupt practices and everyone holding a public office. Raja Jahangir Akhtar issued a press release that he is going on a hunger strike until death in July, 2011. However, this strike had to be postponed in order to protect the sanctity of the Holy month of Ramadan and now this hunger strike shall begin on the 12th day of September, 2011 and will continue till the demands are met.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar was born to a poor family in the year 1943 in Rawal Pindi. He went to a local school in his village till the 5th grade after which he was forced to leave since his family could not afford further education. In order to provide for his family he started working in factories situated in Rawalpindi at a very tender age of 13. Since then Raja Jahangir Akhtar has lead a life of struggles in order to ensure a better future for his children and other family members.
At the age of 21 Raja Jahangir Akhtar was made the Information Secretary of Hosiery Workman Union Rawalpindi. In 1967 all the owners of the Hosiery Mills decided not to employ him as he was bent upon safeguarding the rights of the laborers. He was unemployed for six months where after he joined the Pakistan Army as a gunner and left the services in 1972 to join the Hosiery industry again. Once again he was made the Information Secretary of the Hosiery Workmen Union which resulted in him being banned by the mill owners of Rawalpindi after which he moved to Islamabad to start his own shop with his family.
In the year 1983, Raja Jahangir Akhtar was nominated the Secretary of the Islamabad City for MRD (Movement for the restoration of democracy) and the political activist was arrested and sentenced to a one year rigorous imprisonment coupled with 10 lashes by the then Dictator Zia ul Haq. However, he was acquitted after spending six months in prison and the sentence of 10 lashes was not carried out either.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar went on a hunger strike until death for the first time in the year 1991 which was aimed at the enactment of Rental Laws in order to protect the tenant traders of Islamabad who were always faced with the possibility of being evicted from their businesses without being afforded a fair trial whereas rental laws were in force in the rest of the Country. This strike lasted 6 days and was only called off after a commitment from the then Government, that rental laws for Islamabad City will be enacted on a priority basis. However, the said laws were never enacted thus, Raja Jahangir Akhtar had no choice but to go on a hunger strike again and this time the strike lasted 22 days. Today, Islamabad has rental laws in the shape of the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance of 2001 where under the tenants are granted some rights and protection against the influential landlord and a tenant today cannot be evicted from his business without being afforded a fair trial. It is imperative to mention here that Raja Jahangir Akhtar is the owner of the property in which he runs his business hence, it is safe to state that the aforementioned hunger strikes were for a cause that he truly believed in which was not tainted with greed or malice.
Moreover, General Pervez Mushrraf in his bit to retain power suspended the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and detained the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan along with his family at their residence in Islamabad where neither the Chief Justice nor his family members were allowed to leave their residence. Raja Jahangir Akhtar along with the late Iqbal Bali, went on a hunger strike and demanded that the family of the Chief Justice be allowed to leave the house and carry on with their day to day functions as they do not have anything to do with the controversy that had ensued between the Judiciary and the Executive. This hunger strike lasted six days and was only brought to an end as soon as the establishment released the family of the Chief Justice and allowed it to roam freely at will.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar has been affiliated with the Pakistan People’s Party for over four decades and was formerly the President of the Islamabad chapter of the PPP. He is to date facing a number of false cases which are under trial that were registered against him during the battle for the independence of Judiciary.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar was born to a poor family in the year 1943 in Rawal Pindi. He went to a local school in his village till the 5th grade after which he was forced to leave since his family could not afford further education. In order to provide for his family he started working in factories situated in Rawalpindi at a very tender age of 13. Since then Raja Jahangir Akhtar has lead a life of struggles in order to ensure a better future for his children and other family members.
At the age of 21 Raja Jahangir Akhtar was made the Information Secretary of Hosiery Workman Union Rawalpindi. In 1967 all the owners of the Hosiery Mills decided not to employ him as he was bent upon safeguarding the rights of the laborers. He was unemployed for six months where after he joined the Pakistan Army as a gunner and left the services in 1972 to join the Hosiery industry again. Once again he was made the Information Secretary of the Hosiery Workmen Union which resulted in him being banned by the mill owners of Rawalpindi after which he moved to Islamabad to start his own shop with his family.
In the year 1983, Raja Jahangir Akhtar was nominated the Secretary of the Islamabad City for MRD (Movement for the restoration of democracy) and the political activist was arrested and sentenced to a one year rigorous imprisonment coupled with 10 lashes by the then Dictator Zia ul Haq. However, he was acquitted after spending six months in prison and the sentence of 10 lashes was not carried out either.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar went on a hunger strike until death for the first time in the year 1991 which was aimed at the enactment of Rental Laws in order to protect the tenant traders of Islamabad who were always faced with the possibility of being evicted from their businesses without being afforded a fair trial whereas rental laws were in force in the rest of the Country. This strike lasted 6 days and was only called off after a commitment from the then Government, that rental laws for Islamabad City will be enacted on a priority basis. However, the said laws were never enacted thus, Raja Jahangir Akhtar had no choice but to go on a hunger strike again and this time the strike lasted 22 days. Today, Islamabad has rental laws in the shape of the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance of 2001 where under the tenants are granted some rights and protection against the influential landlord and a tenant today cannot be evicted from his business without being afforded a fair trial. It is imperative to mention here that Raja Jahangir Akhtar is the owner of the property in which he runs his business hence, it is safe to state that the aforementioned hunger strikes were for a cause that he truly believed in which was not tainted with greed or malice.
Moreover, General Pervez Mushrraf in his bit to retain power suspended the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and detained the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan along with his family at their residence in Islamabad where neither the Chief Justice nor his family members were allowed to leave their residence. Raja Jahangir Akhtar along with the late Iqbal Bali, went on a hunger strike and demanded that the family of the Chief Justice be allowed to leave the house and carry on with their day to day functions as they do not have anything to do with the controversy that had ensued between the Judiciary and the Executive. This hunger strike lasted six days and was only brought to an end as soon as the establishment released the family of the Chief Justice and allowed it to roam freely at will.
Raja Jahangir Akhtar has been affiliated with the Pakistan People’s Party for over four decades and was formerly the President of the Islamabad chapter of the PPP. He is to date facing a number of false cases which are under trial that were registered against him during the battle for the independence of Judiciary.
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