ISLAMABAD: Expert at a webinar on Saturday urged the governments of South Asian countries to reactivate the Sout Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) to curb the militancy and terrorisms, bilateral conflicts and trans-boundary challenges confronting the region because of climate change. Occupied Kashmir is the flashpoint between the two nuclear nation states where violation of human rights is at its peak, they said.

The panel of experts urged the nondemocratic forces to give a chance to people to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions within their countries.

Democracy ensures basic human rights that lead to peace in a society. But, unfortunately the hegemonic approaches and decision making of the governments have excluded the voices of the people. Only the vested interest prevail at the cost of human rights, they said.

The event was organised by Development Communications Network (Devcom) on the theme “Ensuring human right for peace in the region”.

The panel of experts included former Senator Farhatullah Babar, retired Lt-Gen Talat Masood, retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, General Secretary Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Harris Khalique, Devcom Executive Director Munir Ahmed, an expert from Tehran Dr Yahya Jahangiri, Desert Resource Centre (India) Founder Director Anshul Ojha, Secretary General Human Rights Alliance, Kathmandu (Nepal) Bidur Subedi, Joint Secretary Saarc Human Rights Foundation (Dhaka-Bangladesh) MD Tanbirul Islam and President International Human Right Movement (London-UK) Rana Basharat Ali Khan.

Experts say no peace in region until conflicts resolved

Former Senator Farhatullah Babar said some hidden hands always disrupted the peace efforts in the region primarily between Pakistan and India.

“Hatred is the political slogan to win vote bank while the region is suffering from poverty, hunger and the impact of climate change,” he said.

“A just and a strong parliamentary system will ensure the fair distribution of resources ultimately addressing human rights,” he said.

Democratic governments are less likely to go to war. Pakistan needs to work to strengthen democracy, democratic institutions and parliament, the PPP leader said.

Retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan stressed to strengthen the human rights institutions to improve the situation.

“The National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR), a statutory body under the parliament of Pakistan, is abandoned for the last three years. In the first three years, the Commission investigated the facts to develop 35 reports on a variety of issues for the government to act upon accordingly under the guidance of the Pakistan’s constitution. They all are dusting in the shelves,” he said.

Harris Khalique said if there was no justice there would be no peace. The state has many deficiencies in ensuring human rights.

“The dissenting voices were taken as anti-state and are being considered even today. Forced disappearances in Balochistan and erstwhile Fata districts speaks volumes that the state is not interested to listen to the woes of the people,” he said.

He said militancy was a common challenge for all the countries but no joint action plan exists.

Any rights-based campaign in India would be considered as pro-Pakistan or vice versa, he said, adding the Pakistan government has to show its vigor for human rights by functionalising the National Commission on Human Rights and National Commission on the Status of Women as early as possible

Anshul Ohjha said the climate impact is the biggest threat to the people in the region including water scarcity at the top challenge.

Unfortunately, there is no information portal for the Saarc countries to know the potential threats. Desert communities and the poor are suffering much more than anyone else.

Dr Yahya Jahangiri said the faith-based approach has worked significantly to ensure human rights. Saarc

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2021