15 January 2004	Thursday	22 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: The government has decided to form a human rights wing in the interior ministry to deal with human rights issues, Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said.

Speaking at a seminar on human rights organised by the National Police Academy, the minister said the government in collaboration with the non-governmental organisations would find out remedies for the social ills prevailing in the society.

Meanwhile, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn that there was no such move to create a human right wing in the ministry. He said if such a wing was established, what would be the fate of the already established human rights wing working under the ministry of law.

Talking about the out-dated police system, he said the 160- year-old laws upon which the police had been working needed to be changed to curb violence in police stations as well as making them (police stations) more efficient.

Highlighting the implementation of Police Act-2002, the minister said the government would implement it as the success of police system depended on the success of human rights.

The minister termed the CSS-qualified police officers as the cream of the country, urging them to come up with recommendations to improve the existing state of affairs in the police department.

Commenting on a report on human rights presented by Superintendent of Police Ehsan Sadiq, the minister said: "Human rights condition is improving in Pakistan and it has been recognised at international level."

On this occasion, the minister was informed that the National Police Academy would include human rights in its discipline. The police officers would also be trained to handle certain situations they might confront in their respective duties.

The seminar was also attended by the office-bearers of Ansar Burni Welfare Trust, UNDP, Rozan, Sahil, Such and Aurat Foundation. Talking to Dawn, the interior minister said the main purpose behind the establishment of human right wings was to monitor the behaviour of police towards the public and protect the victims of human rights violations. He said special courses were also being arranged at police academy and other forums for creating awareness of human rights among the police personnel.