LAHORE, Dec 5: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) along with other civil society groups will observe the Universal Human Rights Day on Dec 10 as a black day to condemn the worst HR abuses recorded in the history of the country during 2007.

Announcing this here on Wednesday, HRCP Chairperson Asma Jehangir said black flags should be hoisted on the buildings and black bands be worn on arms on the unworthy occasion. The HRCP would also award the best documentary award on the film made on the struggle of the legal fraternity of Pakistan next year.

She said the rights of ordinary people had been violated by the government with impunity during 2007. More than 400 people had been picked up by the security forces, and many of them were still missing.

The Musharraf regime had obstructed the Supreme Court in providing justice to those who had remained disappeared as well as those who had recorded statements of having suffered extreme form of torture at the hands of security forces. Reports of torture, threats, intimidation and arbitrary arrests ran into thousands. The incidents of extra-judicial killings continued to be reported, but were never investigated. — Reporter