KARACHI, May 2: Minister of state for law, justice and human rights Chaudhry Shahid Akram Bhinder said here on Tuesday that an independent national human rights commission would be established soon to take up issues pertaining to violation of human rights.

All is set and only the passage of bill from the parliament is awaited, he told a meeting with representatives of various NGOs during his visit to the regional directorate of Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Karachi.

He said the proposed NHRC, which would have its chapters in all the provinces, would comprise retired judges, retired bureaucrats and representatives of women.“The NHRC would take cognizance of human rights violations on complaints lodged with it or through suo moto action on media reports. The commission would be empowered to even prosecute offenders,” Mr. Bhinder said, adding human rights courts would also be set up according such status to the district and sessions courts.

On an issue raised by the participants of the meeting, the minister told that the government plans to amend the law providing for penalty to police officers for faulty investigation into the cases causing harm to the innocent people. Another amendment was also under consideration according to which courts would not jail children and women in minor offences.

Haq Nawaz Akhtar, who runs two NGOs-Saiban for prisoners, and Young Generation, suggested the minister to introduce a system for accrediting the human rights organizations working across the country with the ministry of human rights.—PPI