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December 10, 2007
On Universal Human Rights Day, PCHR strongly condemns systematic human rights violation in Pakistan, Urges to release all political leaders, demands for free and fair elections, calls for independence of judiciary and elimination of curbs on media
Islamabad: To observe International Human Rights Day, a special meeting was held at Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR). Participants of the meeting strongly condemned systematic human rights violation of the citizens of Pakistan by the government, urged for the release of all political and social leaders, elimination of curbs on media, demanded for free and fair election and called for the restoration of all judges to further the softer image of Pakistan, this was stated in a press release issues here on by PCHR today.
The event was attended by former MNA’s, social workers, human rights activists and members of Non-governmental organizations. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global enunciation of human rights.
Chairman PCHR Riaz Fatyana said that Pakistan needed strong institutional mechanism on federal, provincial and local level to protect the human rights through out the country on urgent basis.
He affirmed despite the highly centralized character of the Pakistani State, Pakistan faces major crisis of Governance, identify and legitimacy. “International Human Rights reports and local human rights groups cite brutal prison conditions, suppression of women’s, children’s, and minority rights, bonded labour and violation of basic rights of citizen are very much common in the present government”, he highlighted
Executive Director PCHR Kashmala Tariq told that to be a strong partner of the campaign, “Dignity and Justice for All of Us” which is being launched by the united Nations on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the government of Pakistan should demonstrate its commitment to the International Community by releasing all political and civil society activists including lawyers to affirm the election process smoothly.
She said media is the eye and the ear of any society to improve our social, moral political and economic dimensions and lead us on the way what to do and what not to do. She further added that curb on media by the Government in Pakistan is heavily affecting the due role of media which should be removed as soon as possible to enhance the democratic process. “Freedom of expression and speech is guaranteed in the Human Charter and Pakistan is signatory to conventions of UN then why these conventions not followed in letter and spirit” she stated.
Chief Coordinator PCHR Shafique Chaudhary said independence of judiciary ensures protection of state citizen rights, stops human rights violation, assures human dignity, non discrimination, equality, fairness and universality, applied to every one and always. Expressing his concern about the independence of judiciary and imprisonment of lawyers he told that the government of Pakistan must eliminate restriction on judiciary and repost all the judges on their positions only then the citizens of Pakistan could hope for their security in practical.
He urged the government to abolish restriction on the judiciary, intimidation on media and attempts to control the activities of the NGOs and human rights groups.
He called upon the government to ensure free and fair election as this is the only way of implementing true democracy and stability in Pakistan.
Media Cell, PCHR
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