March, 21 2005	Monday	10 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 20: Around 2,700 people have committed suicide in the country in the last three years, the annual general meeting of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan observes here on Sunday. Tracing reasons for such a ghastly trend of self-killing, the AGM said, “joblessness, financial worries and social discord caused by unequal distribution of wealth and alarming disparity between the rich and the poor are major reasons for these deaths.” The meeting also discussed national issues and the governance crisis in the country. It noted with deep regret the plight of common man, who is facing miseries more than ever.

The suicide figures, it said, pointed to growing desperation among people. Most of the suicide victims are below 40. Rising inflation, poor governance and a lack of access to justice were some of the factors contributing to the misery of people, it added.

It noted that the increase in the number of cases in which parents had killed their children was yet another aspect of the state of affairs.

The commission meeting demanded that priority be given to the concerns of the poor: unemployment must be addressed by ending the process of downsizing in the public sector and initiating major development schemes that offer employment opportunities to people. It also stressed that budgetary allocations should be directed towards social services, including education, health, sanitation and provision of safe drinking water.

The HRCP also took exception to rising violence against women and said that two recent cases — Mukhtaran Mai’s and Dr Shazia’s — once again exposed vulnerability of women to crime.

Official data shows that over 1,000 women are murdered every year in the name of ‘honour’ while cases of rape are also on the rise.

The AGM iterated that until prevailing impunity available to culprits ended and cosmetic promises were converted into genuine commitment to safeguard women’s rights, their status in society could hardly change. This commitment must take the form of ending institutionalized discrimination against women and scrapping all discriminatory laws.

It said the most regrettable situation had arisen in Balochistan. “The AGM fully endorses the detailed statement issued on Balochistan by the HRCP council on Friday and crisis there.” It was also becoming clear that the violence in the province was part of a plan carefully devised in many years, it said, warning that any military operation in Balochistan could not only deteriorate the provincial situation but could also put the national integrity and security of people at risk.

The check posts manned by paramilitary forces, where citizens, including women, were frequently harassed and subjected to body searches, added fuel to fire. The AGM reaffirmed its demand that all violence should immediately be ceased and the siege of Dera Bugti and Sui ended. It expressed solidarity with the people of Balochistan.

There had been a discernible decline over the past few years in the access available to citizens to various parts of the country, including prisons. “Governance has become dubious, thus, making defence of human rights’ violation difficult.”

“Independent journalists, activists and other citizens have been repeatedly denied access to Wana, Dera Bugti, Sui, Marri Agency and other parts of the country. Confusion about events unfolding in these areas because of denial of access persists,” the meeting said. It called for access to the government working and demanded that the people must be provided with facts about national events. Civil society organizations also must not be denied access to prisons or victims of crime. It was obvious that such curbs had worsened conditions in jails where inmates were even denied access to their lawyers.

The commission AGM also expressed concern over heightened official coercion to threaten freedom of civil society organizations.

Dwindling public faith and trust in the judiciary is the outcome of such an interference. “Issues such as appointment of judges, their accountability and filling in vacancies in courts are major factors of the public’s lack of trust.

Superior courts have rarely operated at full strength since 2003. The increased intervention of the government in judicial matters must end so that the state of judicial independence and integrity can be improved.”

The AGM also claimed that a return to a civilian rule was more vital at this juncture than ever before. As was evident in Balochistan, the military was willing to resort to increasingly desperate means to expand its writ to all aspects of life.

“The extent of militarization of civil society, according to the meeting, is evident from the fact that over 1,000 serving and retired armed forces personnel (as goes press reports) were inducted into posts previously held by civilians between October 1999 and 2003.

The armed forces are into almost all the affairs and holding positions as vice-chancellors of universities and other important posts. “The military imposes an immense economic burden on the poor and has encroached on the assets of citizens.”

Despite official claims of controlling extremism, the trend had picked up steam in the country. In the NWFP, bills drafted by the MMA sought a ban on music and dance as well as on women appearing in advertising. “Sectarian tension has entered areas such as Gilgit where it was previously unknown.