ISLAMABAD: Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) has browsed through the parliamentary data on human rights which had been taken up by legislators in the Senate and the National Assembly over the past three-and-a-half years and found mismatching response of the government to it.

“The parliament enacted laws for protection of children and women against sexual abuse and honour killings but the private members’ proposals for welfare of minorities and disabled persons are stuck in the National Assembly due to treasury’s disinterest,” says a report issued on the International Human Rights Day on Saturday.

Fafen, a coalition of over 40 civil society organisations enjoying support of the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability, has been observing the proceedings of the National Assembly and Senate since 2008 and 2011, respectively.

An analysis of the reporting period reveals that members of parliament are much interested in taking up the issues of human rights in the respective legislatures. However, the government does not seem much interested in enacting laws that may prevent human rights abuses in the country.

Report says proposals for welfare of minorities and disabled persons are stuck in NA due to treasury’s disinterest

The Fafen report includes legislative as well as other business taken up by the parliamentarians on human rights abuses and their redressal mechanisms between June 1, 2013 and Nov 30, 2016. The scope of the report is limited to regular parliamentary business that has been addressed during plenary sittings of 36 sessions of the National Assembly and Senate held since April 2013.

The parliamentary business record reveals that the legislature has been trying to play its part in highlighting human rights violations in the country and ensuring fundamental rights of the citizens. The lawmakers regularly took cognisance of the rights abuses, reminded the executive of its obligations and held discussions to explore solutions to the hiccups.

They also responded to the human rights violations by introducing legislative solutions.

However, the proposals and discussions require executive’s support to translate the bills into laws and policies.

Despite dozens of legislative proposals, the parliament could enact only one law during the reporting period which was related to child rights. However, the decision of parliament to allow military courts to try civilian terror suspects became controversial and drew ire of some lawmakers and human rights activists.

Besides, the parliament passed 53 resolutions, held 19 discussions, asked 373 questions and took up 15 calling attention notices on the issue of human rights.

Through resolutions, the parliament condemned the incidents of violence and terrorism and urged the government to promote women’s empowerment and religious tolerance in the country.

Throughout these parliamentary years, the lawmakers continued asking the government questions about issues related to human rights.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2016