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| March 28, 2006 | Tuesday | Safar 27, 1427 |
Fair poll not possible under present setup: Law and order situation worsening: HRCP
KARACHI, March 27: Free and fair elections are not possible under the resent government, the law and order situation has worsened and incidents of human rights abuses and disappearances of opponents and attacks on minorities have increased, says a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) report.
The report presented by HRCP secretary-general Iqbal Haider at the commission’s annual general meeting pointed to a parallel judicial system operating in the country, increasing impoverishment of people and growing militancy, and called for a peaceful solution of the Balochistan issue.
The report said that incidents of fake encounter, custodial death, killing, disappearances, non-registration of FIRs, looting, robbery, domestic violence and karo-kari had increased in the country.
It said that right to life was fundamental which must be protected by the state and its failure to perform its duty was eroding people’s confidence in state institutions.
In the interior of Sindh, feudal lords in complicity with armed thugs have established fiefdoms within which the writ of law does not prevail. In Karachi, several custodial and encounter killings, including deaths of Ghaffar Shaikh, Atif Magsi, Amjad Masih and Hassan Gichki, have allegedly been committed by the police.
It said that the restoration of a fully-fledged democratic process, including holding of free and fair elections within the constitutionally mandated timeframe under an independent election commission, was essential. It demanded withdrawal of restriction on political leaders, an end to political detention of all leaders and guarantees of equal rights to women.
The report said that at least 11 cases of disappearances had been documented by the HRCP and latest persons to go missing were Dr Hanif Sharif, Rauf Sassoli, Dr Safdar Sarki and Atif Jawed Gondal. It said that if these persons were guilty of any crime they should be charged and tried in courts.
A parallel judicial system of jirgas was working. New cases of vani surfaced in which young women were handed over to men many times their age as compensation for murder. It called for banning jirgas that had already been declared illegal by courts.
The HRCP said that there had been at least 13 attacks on minority community members and their places of worship in the past one year. Churches, schools and other property of Christians were set ablaze or attacked in Sangla Hill and Sukkur. The government pressurised victims through community leaders to keep quiet, rather than punish the culprits. Ahmadis are banned by the Jhang district administration from purchasing land.
The report said that the condition of minorities would continue to deteriorate unless all discriminatory laws were repealed or amended.
Referring to the killing of over 70 people in Gilgit and Skardu in sectarian violence and killing of over 50 people in Hangu, the report demanded steps aimed at creating a tolerant environment, replacing seminaries with public sector schools and rehabilitating young militants.
The report said that the economic condition of a majority of people had deteriorated owing to poverty, joblessness and inflation and added that over 35 per cent of the population were living below the poverty line.
There is a lack of educational institutions in rural areas which also lack other facilities like water, sanitation, roads, etc. It called for revision of government policies so that people could get relief.
Calling for a negotiated settlement of the Balochistan issue, the commission expressed concern over deaths of people in landmine blasts. It also called for addressing the issue of provincial autonomy.
It criticised increasing interference of military in the civilian sector and warned that it was creating resentment among people.
The report said that the proposed construction of reservoirs on the Indus river was contributing to the inter-provincial tension and called for national consensus on the issue. It said all political groups or citizens be allowed to hold rallies and demonstrations on matters concerning them.
It said that right of free expression was coming under severe check and many a journalist had been attacked, killed or gone missing. Others were under pressure from intelligence agencies or military personnel. The HRCP demanded press freedom.
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