Draft:Awaaz: Echoes of Freedom and Justice

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  • Comment: " who has freed over 900,000 people from illegal captivity" This is a WP:REDFLAG claim that needs way better sourcing to support it. This guy is supposedly a more successful humanitarian than Raoul Wallenberg according to the latter's most hyperbolic admirers, where are the plaudits? (t · c) buidhe 04:40, 28 April 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: This article is not properly sourced. I can see much number of PR—they doesn't qualify being reliable sources per WP:RS. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 04:38, 22 April 2024 (UTC)
Awaaz: Echoes of Freedom and Justice
First edition cover
AuthorAnsar Burney with Shehar Bano Rizvi and Tasneem Premjee Chamdia
CountryPakistan
LanguageEnglish
GenreAutobiography, Memoir
PublisherAnsar Burney Trust
Publication date
February, 2024
Media typeHardcover
Pages292
ISBN978-9692397902

Awaaz: Echoes of Justice and Freedom is the official autobiography of Ansar Burney, a Pakistani human rights activist who has freed over 900,000 people from illegal captivity.[1] The book is co-written and edited by Shehar Bano Rizvi and Tasneem Premjee Chamdia.

The book was launched on February 18, 2024, at the Karachi Literature Festival in Pakistan, followed by a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.[2]

Synopsis[edit]

In his memoir, Ansar Burney recalls his transformation from a student leader to a champion of human rights. Being a student leader during his university days, Ansar Burney was sent to jail. He spent most of 1977, 1978 and 1979 in prison.[3] It was during this stay behind bars that Burney witnessed the harrowing conditions of Pakistani prisons and the violation of human rights there. It moved him to change his career path and changed his focus toward advocating for the prisoners. He left politics and studied law.

In 1980, he established the Ansar Burney Trust,[4] which provided legal aid to prisoners and worked on finding missing persons and reuniting them with their families.[5]

Ansar Burney talks about how he worked within the boundaries of state law to address issues by cooperating with authorities. His collaboration with leaders such as Muhammad Khan Junejo, Zia-ul-Haq, Mirza Aslam Beg, Pervez Musharraf[6][7][8][9] and others led to the release of numerous prisoners in Pakistan. He also helped release many Indians and Bangladeshi citizens stuck in Pakistani jails and vice versa.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

In the book, Burney talks about his 17-year-long fight against the use of child camel jockeys[20][21] in the Middle East[22] and his collaboration with HBO to make the documentary for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, which played an instrumental role in finally bringing an end to the practice. Soon after the release of the documentary, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan invited Burney to the UAE and appointed him as his advisor to help abolish the practice in the country. A ban was imposed on underaged jockeys,[23] the children were repatriated back to their home countries,[24] and robot jockeys were introduced.[25][26][27] Ansar Burney was honored as an Anti-Human Trafficking Hero by the US State Department.[28]

Ansar Burney recounts the challenges he faced during his life journey, including death threats,[29] personal mishaps, troubled relationships, and experiences with working closely with renowned humanitarians like Abdul Sattar Edhi, Mother Teresa and Ruth Pfau. He recounts his experience of collaborating with Edhi Trust to locate the family of the deaf and mute Indian girl Geeta, who was lost in Pakistan and was rescued by the Edhi Trust.[30][31][32] The Indian blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijan is believed to be inspired by this case,[33] and Burney was subsequently referred as the Real Bajrangi Bhaijan.[34][35][36]

Burney shares in his autobiography how he helped bridge the divide between India and Pakistan when he became Pakistan's first Minister of Human Rights[37] and later a UN Expert Advisor on Human Rights.[38] He fought for justice for many Indian citizens who were stuck in Pakistani jails for decades and was successful in doing so for many such prisoners, including Kashmir Singh[39] for which he was called an Indian agent and received death threats. While he was praised and awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award in India,[40][41][42] he also found himself unpleasant situations like deportation from India[43][44] and in controversies for helping Kashmir Singh[9][45][46] and another prisoner named Sarabjit Singh.[47][48][49][50]

Burney narrates in detail about the experience of helping liberate MV Suez, a merchant ship that was hijacked by the Somali Pirates.[51][52] How he worked closely with Governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad and the Pakistan Navy to get the 22 crew members(including Indian citizens) back to safety on a Pakistani warship.[53][54] He became a hero in India and was highly praised for it internationally.[55][56][57]

In his autobiography, Burney shares his personal and professional successes and vulnerabilities. He discusses the controversy surrounding his brother and his parting ways with him.[58][59][59]

Burney's memoir offers valuable insights for anyone in the humanitarian field or on a journey of personal growth.

Book Reviews[edit]

  • Voice for the Voiceless.[60] Book review by Sheharyar Ahmed for Dawn (April 14, 2024).

Articles & Interviews[edit]

  • A journey of rights, resilience - An interview with the co-authors, Shehar Bano Rizvi and Tasneem Premjee Chamdia[61] by Kamran Rehmat for Gulf Times.
  • Ansar Burney's 'Awaaz' reaches Doha -[62] by Kamran Rehmat for Gulf Times.
  • Ansar Burney discusses his transformation from student leader to champion of rights -[63] Qatar Tribune.
  • Awaz, Echoes of Freedom: A Documentation of Ansar Burney's Humanitarian Legacy -[64] Friday Times.
  • Legendary Burney's Awaaz strikes a chord[65] by Kamran Rehmat for Gulf Times.
  • Ansar Burney launches his autobiography Awaaz -[66] Business Recoder.
  • Job creation is crucial for reducing poverty -[67] The Nation (March 02,2024).
  • Ansar Burney Launches Autobiography Awaaz -[68] [[Daily Times| Daily Times].
  • 02 2024 603 010 Generating Employment -[69] Dawn.
  • Ansar Burney, former minister for human rights & recipient of over 250 international awards, launches his autobiography Awaaz -[70] The Azb (February 20, 2024).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Shirazi, Maria. "It's time to give back!". www.thenews.com.pk.
  2. ^ Report, Recorder (February 21, 2024). "Ansar Burney launches his autobiography 'Awaaz'". Brecorder.
  3. ^ "Punjab families hail their saviour from Pakistan". India Today. July 2, 2011.
  4. ^ https://ansarburney.org
  5. ^ "Trust to prepare report on lost underage children from India and middle east countries". The Times of India. December 30, 2013.
  6. ^ "Musharraf to free Indian "spy" condemned to death | Reuters". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Pakistan frees 'spy' after 35 years". Al Jazeera.
  8. ^ "Pakistan frees Indian spy suspect after 35 years". NBC News. March 3, 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Indian Prisoner Released by Pakistan Admits to Spying". Voice of America. October 27, 2009.
  10. ^ "Pakistan frees 70 Indian prisoners". Hindustan Times. December 22, 2006.
  11. ^ "Indian in Pak prison for 25 years: Burney". India Today. May 27, 2009.
  12. ^ "Indian POW traced,claims Burney". April 29, 2011.
  13. ^ "Burney moves SHC against 189 Pak prisoners missing from Indian jails". www.thenews.com.pk.
  14. ^ "Another Indian on death row languishing in Pak jail: Burney". The Economic Times. June 10, 2008.
  15. ^ "Burney asks India, Pakistan to release prisoners". Zee News. July 27, 2010.
  16. ^ "India may release 60 Pak prisoners next week: Ansar Burney". 16 November 2008.
  17. ^ "India to release 150 Pakistani prisoners: Burney". Brecorder. April 16, 2008.
  18. ^ "Women among 46 prisoners in Indian jails". DAWN.COM. March 27, 2008.
  19. ^ "Burney seeks records on missing 14,000 people". gulfnews.com. April 18, 2014.
  20. ^ Beaumont, Peter; editor, foreign affairs (June 3, 2001). "Kidnapped children sold into slavery as camel racers". The Guardian. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ "The camel jockeys of Arabia". The Economist.
  22. ^ "Thousands of Boys Trapped as Camel Jockeys in Middle East". Voice of America. October 29, 2009.
  23. ^ Fattah, Hassan M. (April 3, 2005). "Limits Set for Boy Jockeys in Emirates' Camel Races". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  24. ^ "U.A.E. asks U.S. to dismiss camel jockey suit". NBC News. December 22, 2006.
  25. ^ "Robot Camel Jockeys Replace Young Boys". Voice of America. October 30, 2009.
  26. ^ Mackey, Robert (December 11, 2005). "Robot Jockeys". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  27. ^ "Ban on child camel jockeys sends a brutal trade underground". The Independent. April 28, 2005.
  28. ^ "Ansar Burney - U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report Heroes". www.tipheroes.org.
  29. ^ "Ex-Pak minister Burney goes into hiding". The Times of India. April 27, 2013.
  30. ^ "On Ansar Burney's plea, Delhi to help Indian stuck in Pak". The Times of India. August 4, 2015.
  31. ^ "Indian envoy arrives at Edhi Centre to meet Geeta". The Express Tribune. August 4, 2015.
  32. ^ "A Real Life Bajrangi Bhaijaan Story Gets Indian Government's Attention". NDTV.com.
  33. ^ Desk, Web (July 31, 2015). "Was Bajrangi Bhaijaan inspired by Ansar Burney?". ARY NEWS.
  34. ^ "Burney Bhaijaan to visit India on Sept 2 to locate Indian woman's family". Hindustan Times. August 4, 2015.
  35. ^ "Real 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' story takes curious turn". Deccan Herald.
  36. ^ "'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' impact: Govt agrees to help deaf-and-dumb Indian girl stranded in Pakistan". Zee News. August 3, 2015.
  37. ^ "Ex-ministers involved in human trafficking: Ansar Burney's allegation". DAWN.COM. January 16, 2008.
  38. ^ "HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND APPROVES A NUMBER OF SPECIAL PROCEDURES MANDATE HOLDERS | OHCHR".
  39. ^ "A powerful Indian love story". March 4, 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  40. ^ "Ansar Burney to receive Mother Terasa Award on October 26". Brecorder. October 25, 2008.
  41. ^ "Burney conferred Mother Teresa award for social justice". Zee News. October 26, 2008.
  42. ^ "Pak human rights activist bags Mother Teresa award". The Times of India. October 27, 2008.
  43. ^ "India 'deports Ansar Burney'". DAWN.COM. May 31, 2008.
  44. ^ "Former Pakistan minister stopped from entering India | Reuters". Reuters.
  45. ^ "I was not a spy, says Kashmir Singh". Zee News. March 8, 2008.
  46. ^ "An Indian spy in Pakistan". The Express Tribune. May 3, 2010.
  47. ^ "Sarabjit's sister seek probe in role of Pak right activist Ansar Burney". The Times of India. August 5, 2017.
  48. ^ "Burney demanded money, says Sarabjit's sister". The Hindu. 2 May 2013.
  49. ^ "Convert Sarabjit Singh's death penalty to life: Ansar Burney appeals to Pak President Zardari". NDTV.com.
  50. ^ "Ansar Burney demanded Rs 25 cr for Sarabjit Singh's release?". India Today. May 2, 2013.
  51. ^ "Parents of Indian hostages turn to Ansar Burney for help". The Hindu. January 14, 2013 – via www.thehindu.com.
  52. ^ "Ship hijacked: Ansar Burney seeks release of crew". The Times of India. September 6, 2011.
  53. ^ "Indian sailors freed by Somali pirates welcomed home". BBC News. June 24, 2011.
  54. ^ "Four Pakistanis among 22 set free by Somali pirates". 13 June 2011.
  55. ^ "Families of Indian sailors thank Ansar Burney, unhappy with Indian Govt". NDTV.com.
  56. ^ "Pak human rights activist Ansar Burney to meet kin of six hostages in Mumbai today". The Times of India. April 18, 2012.
  57. ^ "Pakistani saviour for Indians held by Somali pirates". Deccan Herald.
  58. ^ "Maya Khan show: Burney brothers split over Hindu boy's televised conversion". The Express Tribune. July 28, 2012.
  59. ^ a b Desk, India TV News; News, India TV (July 27, 2012). "Ansar Burney to sue Maya Khan after Hindu boy was converted to Islam live on TV". www.indiatvnews.com. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  60. ^ https://www.dawn.com/news/1827354
  61. ^ https://www.gulf-times.com/article/678886/opinion/interview-a-journey-of-rights-resilience
  62. ^ https://www.gulf-times.com/article/680315/qatar/ansar-burneys-awaaz-reaches-doha
  63. ^ https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/116299/nation/ansar-burney-discusses-his-transformation-from-student-leader-to-champion-of-rights
  64. ^ https://thefridaytimes.com/03-Mar-2024/awaz-echoes-of-freedom-a-documentation-of-ansar-burney-s-humanitarian-legacy
  65. ^ https://www.gulf-times.com/article/678635/qatar/legendary-burneys-awaaz-strikes-a-chord
  66. ^ https://www.brecorder.com/news/40289852/ansar-burney-launches-his-autobiography-awaaz
  67. ^ https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Mar-2024/job-creation-is-crucial-for-reducing-poverty
  68. ^ https://dailytimes.com.pk/1172497/ansar-burney-launches-autobiography-awaaz/
  69. ^ https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php?StoryImage=26
  70. ^ https://theazb.com/ansar-burney-former-minister-for-human-rights-recipient-of-over-250-international-awards-launches-his-autobiography-awaaz/
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