ISLAMABAD: Members of a parliamentary body on Thursday said it is difficult to bind the corporate sector to abide by labour and human rights laws when the state is itself involved in massive human rights violations.

“In a country where the state is suspected of violating citizen’s human rights, as citizens disappear without trace and with impunity, it requires extraordinary optimism and courage to request and expect the corporate sector to protect and defend the human rights of consumers and workers,” PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar told the Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights.

The issue of massive human rights violations was raised at the committee by PML-N Senator Nisar Mohammad at the meeting called to get a briefing by the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (Pips) on the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

PPP Senator Seher Kamran urged the government to ensure the children in jails are educated and also suggested renaming children’s prisons as Centres for Personal Correction.

Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Mohammad Shahi supported his colleague and also called for the protection of the rights of children in jails and those engaged in bonded labour in brick kilns. He also hinted towards enforced disappearances by security organisations. The chairperson of the committee, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Nasreen Jalil, said it was disturbing that no one had yet been held accountable for enforced disappearances.

“The list of missing persons continues to increase,” she said.

Deliberating over the agenda for the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, members called on Pips and the Ministry of Human Rights to examine existing laws and find gaps in legislation which do not permit meeting international agreements.

The committee directed for the implementation of existing laws for the enforcement of labour laws and also urged Pips and the Ministry of Human Rights to examine laws protecting children engaged in hazardous work.

Ms Jalil said a motion will be moved in Senate to help workers in brick kilns.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2017