January 4, 2003	Saturday	Shawwal 30, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: The Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR) has decided to work as a coordinating body between the Jamali-led government and the parliament for making suitable changes in the laws violative of the basic human rights.

Briefing reporters at the Parliamentary Lodges here on Friday about the objectives of the commission, PCHR chairman Riaz Fatyana of the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) said that it would cover all issues concerning political, legal, equality and economic rights of the citizens by taking part in the debates on the floor of the House through adjournment and privilege motions.

He said that all the laws concerning labourers, students and other segments of society would be reviewed by the justice committee of the commission for bringing changes in them.

The commission was not satisfied with the working of the special courts including the NAB and would like that their mandate and composition be changed to ensure justice and merit to all, he added.

Responding to a question regarding the ongoing controversy over the FBI’s intrusions Mr Fatyana said that though the arrests in the country by the FBI were not made without consent and cooperation of local agencies, the matter would be looked into in the light of human rights values and the government would be given input on it.

He said that besides the genuine NGOs working on human rights in the country, foreign legal experts would also be associated by the commission for advice on framing and implementing laws where necessary.

The commission would work to mobilize and motivate the parliamentarians to make laws for protecting the basic rights of the citizens, promote awareness of human rights, encourage people to follow the principles of equality, provide effective and timely means for resolving individual complaints, ensure implementation of UN and other resolution signed by Pakistan, strive for elimination of poverty, child labour, violence against women and protect the rights of minorities.