PESHAWAR, Jan 12: The federal government has planned to set up an ‘autonomous’ commission on human rights which will have an equal representation from the four provinces.

The proposed commission will take notice of human rights violations in the country and recommend punishments.

Speaking at a gathering at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Saturday, caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burni regretted that a large number of prisoners on death row had been waiting for 10-15 years for verdict on their appeals.

He claimed that President Musharraf was taking a number of steps to improve the human rights situation and realised that its violation caused serious problems like terrorism and extremism.

SCCI president Haji Mohammad Asif said that the government should take steps for setting up rehabilitation centres for victims of child labour besides ensuring basic amenities of life for them.

Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand, Mohsin Aziz, Inayat Khan, Abdul Hameed Gorwara, Sharafat Ali Mubarik and Malak Iftikhar Awan from the business community also spoke on the occasion.