KARACHI: The Sindh Human Rights Commission launched its second annual report here on Thursday. The report covers the activities and initiatives undertaken by the SHRC in 2015.

Speaking about the annual report, chairperson of the SHRC retired Justice Majida Razvi said the report served the purpose of transparency as the SHRC

wished to share its work with the public. She said the SHRC, in 2014, dealt with 82 cases of human rights violations, including suo-motu cases. In 2015, the number came up to 125 cases. Apart from a series of awareness sessions, workshops and seminars organised to promote discourses on rights, the SHRC also undertook a comprehensive visit to jails, hospitals and Darul Amans in Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana and Dadu in 2015. The details of those visits as well as all other activities and cases had been documented in the annual report. She said the production and publication of the report had been supported by The Asia Foundation.

The report also carries a list of international conventions and treaties related to human rights that Pakistan has ratified, including GSP Plus and ILO Conventions. Justice Razvi shared that this was to emphasise the international obligations of Pakistan. “The commission is keen to play a role in realising human rights of the citizens of Sindh province in line with fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution in addition to a broader framework of rights provided by the international treaties ratified by Pakistan,” she said.

Launching the report, Rehana Leghari said her department and the SHRC had a common cause i.e. protection and promotion of human rights.

The event also involved review of the proposed amendments to the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2011. Speaking about the subject, Justice Razvi said the SHRC had been working for over three years under the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2011, which was notified in 2013. The law equipped the commission with suo motu and inquiry powers, in addition to a recommendatory role. These have been very effective as the SHRC had taken up a wide range of human rights violations cases. However, in the day-to-day operations of the SHRC, it had been felt that a strengthened law would enable the SHRC to perform its functions better. The amendments had been developed with this purpose in mind.

Lawyer Hammad Siddiqui, who has worked on the draft, presented the proposed amendments. Retired justices Shaiq Usmani, S. Ali Aslam Jaffri, Ms Maliha Zia and members of the audience reviewed the proposed amendments and shared their views.

In her concluding remarks, Justice Razvi said the report would be uploaded on the SHRC’s website. She said the SHRC was committed to engaging parliament, government departments, judiciary and members of civil society to promote a pro-human rights environment in the province.

The launch was also attended by Rehana Leghari, special assistant to the CM for human rights.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016