KARACHI: Members of civil society, trade unions and academic fraternity have demanded impeachment of President Arif Alvi for his alleged role in subverting the supremacy of the Constitution.

The demand was made at a meeting held at the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) here. The meeting was presided over by Hussain Naqi of the commission and Karamat Ali, director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler).

Appreciating the unanimous judgement of the Supreme Court over the ruling of National Assembly deputy speaker, they also demanded immediate constitutional and electoral reforms to make the Constitution more pro-people so as to safeguard basic fundamental rights, right to employment and social security.

According to a press statement, they called for an end to all types of discrimination against women, minorities, genders, working classes and other weaker members of society.

The speakers said the proposed law on declaring forced disappearances as criminal offence should be introduced without any delay and all the missing persons should be recovered.

They also urged parliamentarians to approve a comprehensive law to protect basic fundamental rights. The only way to end the economic turmoil was reforms aimed at mitigating the sufferings of the poor, expanding regional trade, reduction in defence budget and harmonising relations with the neighbouring countries, they said.

They demanded that further negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be held keeping in view the past four year’s severe impact of their reforms on the poor and working classes. All the loan agreements must be approved by the peoples’ representatives in parliament, they added.

The participants of the meeting included Asad Iqbal Butt (HRCP), Dr Riaz Sheikh (SZABIST), Faisal Edhi, Dr Riaz Ahmed (Karachi University), Zahid Farooq (Urban Resource Centre), Nasir Masnoor (National Trade Union Federation), Mahnaz Rahman (Aurat Foundation), Zehra Khan (Home-Based Women Workers Federation), Dr Tauseef Ahmed (educationist), Qazi Khizar (HRCP), Saeed Balcoh (Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum), Farhat Parveen (Now Communities), Sohail Sangi (journalist), Ayub Qureshi, Seemi Emanual, Dr Birma, Sadia Baloch, Wahid Baloch, Abdul Hai and Mahboob Malik.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2022