October 11, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 28, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 10: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has deprecated the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NROI) as “ill-conceived opportunism and designed to put a premium on violent crime and political corruption”.

HRCP Chairperson Asma Jahangir said in a press statement here on Wednesday national reconciliation was the need of the hour but conceding the abuse of accountability in the past was highly condemnable.

She said the HRCP had opposed the abuse of accountability process and selective victimisation of opposition leaders through oppressive and unjust mechanisms such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

She said the HRCP also believed the multi-dimensional crisis confronting the state demanded a genuine political reconciliation, including all political segments of society. To achieve such reconciliation, the return of all exiled political leaders and guarantees of freedom to participate in public affairs has been a major demand of the commission.

Ms Jahangir said the NRO issued by the regime under the label of reconciliation was to promote crime and corruption. The measure fell much short of reconciliation requirements, reeks of opportunism and was clearly unsustainable.

The cases of hardened criminals were to be decided not by courts but by the executive thus giving the administration a licence to unleash dangerous criminals on a helpless population.

While changes in the NAB law were limited to holders of public office, the amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code applied to all offenders. The beneficiaries would not be ordinary citizens but only those who had affiliation with political groups known for their violent acts. A minor change in the electoral practice was sop for those who had for long been demanding an independent Election Commission and effective guarantees for free and fair elections, she added.