ISLAMABAD: Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on Tuesday drew the attention of European parliamentarians to human rights violations in India-held Kashmir and underlined the need to raise the issue of violations against women and children in the conflict zone.

In a meeting with the delegation of European parliamentarians led by Jammu and Kashmir Self-Determination Movement International, she urged the European Union to play its role to stop atrocities and human rights violations being committed by Indian security forces in India-held Kashmir. She said that the international community should come forward to resolve the longstanding issue of Kashmir.

The delegation called on the minister in Islamabad and during the meeting they discussed various issues, including the rights of women, children and minorities.

Dr Mazari apprises visiting MPs of steps taken for protection of rights in Pakistan

Dr Mazari apprised the delegation of the steps taken for the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. She said that her office had a comprehensive agenda and besides implementation of existing laws it was also working on new legislation to ensure the protection and provision of basic rights to every citizen. She showed her concerns about the issues which the Muslim community and Pakistani diaspora had been facing in some states of Europe, particularly in practicing their religion.

However, she urged the European parliamentarians that they should come forward and raise voice against rights violations in India-held Kashmir.

“We have given a blueprint of conflict resolution model for the resolution of this longstanding issue. Innocent Kashmiris suffered a lot for attainment of plebiscite. India is trying to abrogate Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and Article 35-A of the Indian constitution, which will change the demography of Indian Occupied Kashmir,” the minister said.

She said that her office was working on various bills, including Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, Zainab Alert Bill and Domestic Workers Bill.

“We are also working on creating awareness and in this regard the human rights ministry has started various campaigns for women’s right to inheritance and provision of free legal aid to the women besides prevention of child abuse. We have introduced a bill to protect the women’s right to inheritance in the parliament,” Dr Mazari said.

The government has also started the first-ever child labour survey in collaboration with Unicef, which would be completed in a few months. She said that to deal with the issue of enforced disappearances a bill had been drafted in consultation with all stakeholders and was sent to the law ministry. She said that a task force had been formed to stop forced conversions.

“Unlike in Europe, non-Muslim communities in Pakistan have been provided their own laws and in this connection Hindu divorce and marriage laws have already been implemented and christian divorce bill is lying with the law ministry,” the minister claimed.

The delegation appreciated the endeavours of the incumbent government especially the Ministry of Human Rights for the promotion of human rights and assured its full support in this regard.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2019