LAHORE: The 5th edition of the Asma Jahangir Conference called for a dialogue among all political forces while avoiding unelected forces for coming into power and signing a charter of fundamental rights.

Moderating the closing session of the two-day moot, themed ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia,’ Munizae Jahangir said the people had pinned great hopes on the parliament and political forces should come up to their expectations instead of looking towards the unelected forces to come into power.

She was disappointed to see that the participants in the sit-in for the Baloch missing persons who travelled from Turbat to Islamabad were not given a proper hearing even after the general election. She demanded an end to military trials of the civilians and lifting of all restrictions on the internet, asking the political parties to form a consensus on a charter of fundamental rights to ensure protection of rights of citizens.

Discussing the role of political leaders in safeguarding civil rights, WAF founding member Nasreen Azhar noted the challenges faced by political parties as agents of change.

Urges them to avoid unelected forces and sign charter of fundamental rights

Yasin Azad, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), said the parliament should be the strongest institution and we must ask our political leaders to fulfill their roles and refrain from overstepping boundaries.

PTI senator Ali Zafar said politicians’ wrangling would always create an opening for the establishment to intervene. He said the PTI would be ready for talks provided ‘all’ were granted equal political, socioeconomic and cultural rights.

Chief guest Yusuf Raza Gilani recalled that when the PPP had struck down 58 2(b), Asma Jahangir had said that now instead of the establishment, the judiciary would dismiss prime ministers and that’s how he and Nawaz Sharif were removed from power.

In a session, Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch stressed the importance of parliamentary and judicial interventions in resolving the issue of the missing persons for real democracy to thrive. She talked of the threats faced by families of the missing persons and condemned the murder of Balach Maula Bux, labelling it a blemish on Pakistan’s judiciary and military.

Jahangir Jadoon, former advocate general, highlighted the helplessness of the courts in cases of enforced disappearances, attributing it to the involvement of intelligence agencies.

In the session on the expulsion of Afghans’ Mehbouba Seraj from Afghanistan said “I am disgusted at how Afghans have been expelled by a neighbour such as Pakistan, which has played a role in bringing Afghanistan to its current state.”

Patricia Gossman, associate director (Asia Division) of Human Rights Watch, highlighted the situation faced by the refugees returning to Afghanistan and stressed the need for international attention and assistance.

Christine Chung, a human rights officer at the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, announced that Pakistan’s human rights situation would be reviewed in Geneva in August, raising concerns about its obligations under international law. She warned that Pakistan would face tough questions regarding its failure to implement these obligations.

During the discussion on ‘Challenges to women, minorities, and transgender participation in elections,’ Samar Bilour, former parliamentarian from KP, recounted the difficulties she faced as a woman politician.

Dr Saveera Prakash, a politician representing minorities in Buner, and Raheela Durrani, state minister for education in Balochistan, and Sobia Khan, a transperson who contested the election, also spoke.

During the session ‘The cost of violence’ on enforced disappearances, moderated by senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, Olivier de Frouville, chair of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, urged Pakistan to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

In the session on electoral reforms, John Cushnahan, former member of the European Parliament, recounted his experience in Pakistan leading the election observation team. “Upon arrival, I encountered a hostile reaction, including from the ECP,” he added, saying that team’s early arrival was perceived as an attempt to catch pre-election rigging, contrary to expectations of a smooth election day.

Addressing the session on ‘Fundemental rights: Parallel judicial systems’, Abid Saqi, former vice chair Pakistan Bar Council, said there should be no special courts for accountability or other offences as they created parallel systems.

Barrister Khadija Siddiqi said 105 civilians had been tried in military courts after May 9 and the conviction rate was 100pc in secret trials conducted by the army officials and untrained judges.

Farhatullah Babar, the former senator, said there should be a judicial inquiry into May 9.

In the session on ‘Federalism: Empowering the processes’, Afrasiab Khattak, the former senator, said, “Fulfilling the principles of federalism entails ensuring equitable power distribution among all nations and communities. Unfortunately, the local government structure has consistently suffered during periods of martial law.”

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024