LAHORE, July 25: The Punjab Human Rights Commission has condemned the decision of a panchayat in Mianwali to give away eight young girls in marriage to settle a murder case between rival families, says a handout.

The first meeting of the re-constituted PHRC, presided over by Punjab Law Minister Rana Ijaz Ahmad Khan on Thursday, suggested to the government to make the marriage for reconciliation an offence by amending Article 310 of the PPC.

The commission considered various proposals and steps for the protection of the rights of the poor vis-a-vis government institutions, specially the police.

The minister directed the provincial law and parliamentary affairs department to prepare a draft ordinance for giving permanent status to the newly re-constituted PHRC to safeguard the human rights of the masses, specially vulnerable and the juveniles.

The PHRC will provide relief and protection to the poor people and play an affective role in dispute resolution vis-a-vis the government institutions and the aggrieved public.

The meeting was informed that the commission shall have the powers to inquire any person, subject to any privilege available under any law, to furnish information on such points or matter as in the opinion of the commission may be useful for or relevant to the subject matter of the inquiry. A person so required shall be deemed to be legally bound to furnish such information.

The commission or any other officer, not below the rank of a gazetted officer, specially authorized in this behalf by it may enter any building or place where it has reasons to believe that any document relating to the subject matter of the inquiry may be found, and may seize any such document or take extracts or copies therefrom.

The meeting decided to set up a permanent office at a suitable place in Lahore within seven days.

The commission will also take notice on complaints received by mail, telephone or it will initiate suo motu action on reports published in the press.

Commission vice-chairperson Zia Shahid said that the construction of a judicial lock up at Ferozewala was in the final stage. He expressed displeasure over locking under trial prisoners in small judicial lock ups having no facility of attached toilets. The minister said that a new school for giving free-of-cost education to juveniles would soon be set up at the newly constructed Borstal jail in Faisalabad.

The meeting decided to pay surprise visits to lock ups, jails, hospitals, police stations, and other government offices dealing public.

The minister urged the NGOs and social workers to help the government in implementing the agenda of human rights in the society.

PHRC Chairman Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Nasim (retired), vice- chairperson Begum Rukhsana Qayum Malik and members Munoo Bhai, Saeed Aasi, Nafeer A. Malik, Pervaiz Inayat Malik, Mian Jamil Akhtar and Mrs. Saida Khalid also attended the meeting.