ISLAMABAD: Legal experts and the civil society activists claimed that the National Action Plan (NAP) had failed to produce desired results as it remained ineffective in addressing the menace of terrorism.

They were addressing the inaugural session of a congress on “Preserving the Right to Life” organised by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) on Monday.

The participants during a discussion on ‘Terror on Death Row’ pointed out that the National Action Plan, particularly its focus on the death penalty, was ineffective in addressing the problem of terrorism in Pakistan. They all agreed that the law was rarely used against actual terrorists, and called for increasing the capacity of police.

The panel was moderated by JPP Executive Director Sarah Belal and featured broadcast and print journalist Ejaz Haider, former police officer Mohammed Ali Nekokara, activist Jibran Nasir and Director of Conflict Law Centre, Research Society of International Law, Oves Anwar.

Retired Justice Nasira Iqbal, activist Valerie Khan, Child Rights Commissioner Samar Minallah and others described various fundamental problems under the implementation of Pakistan’s Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, which have led to wrongful executions and torture of juveniles in the past.

The panel discussed the link between mental health, juvenile delinquency and problems of age determination. They called upon the government to pass the Child Protection Bill.

Chairman National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chohan said the enactment of the NCHR Act had paved the way for enforcement of Pakistan’s international legal obligations under the various UN human rights treaties, including the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

Guido Bilancini a political counsellor with the European Union Delegation to Pakistan said that the Pakistani government had agreed with the EU through the mechanism of the GSP+ that it would respect its human rights obligations under the 27 human rights conventions as well.

“It’s very clear that under these obligations, a mentally ill person cannot be hanged,” Bilancini added.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2016