US State Department Official meets Chairman PCHR

in the Secretariat

 

 

ISLAMABAD: A high level US State Department official Mr. Stephen C. Engel ken, Director of Pakistan/ Bangladesh Affairs, Bureau of South Asian Affairs called on Chairman Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR) Mr. Riaz Fatyana Member National Assembly (MNA) at PCHR Central Secretariat here on today.

This visit was in continuation of Mr. Riaz Fatyana,s visit of US State Department during August 2004. The meeting continued for more than one hour. During the meeting with the US official the issues relating to Pak- US relations, strengthening of democracy, human rights, role of parliamentarians, democracy as well as the social sector development of Pakistan came under discussion. Riaz Fatyana briefed the US visiting official about the work of commission and role of parliamentarians and status of human rights issues and democracy at present in Pakistan.

 

“To endorse democracy in Pakistan there is a dire need to strengthen political parties in Pakistan” he added. While discussing other regional and international issues he reiterated his stance that without resolution of core issue of Kashmir and Palestine, it was not possible to reduce extremism and fundamentalism in South Asia and Middle East.

 

He informed the visiting US official that Parliamentarians in Pakistan were playing their proactive role to address the issue being faced by people and to improve human rights situation in the country.

 

While talking about the PCHR recommendations for the legal and administrative system especially Hudood Ordinance, Honour killing Bill, Senior Citizen Bill, Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, Industrial Relation ordinance, and Bonded Labour he added that some of these had been adopted in the legal and administrative system of Pakistan and some were under consideration for legal process.

 

Visiting US official appreciated the role of PCHR activities, especially the measures which it had taken for the legal and administrative changes, eradication of lacunas in the existing legislation of Pakistan.

 

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