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ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill envisaging the setting up of a national human rights commission and decided to thoroughly examine the draft unanimously approved by the National Assembly to make the proposed body completely independent and free from political interference.

The bill was scheduled to be tabled by Prime Minister’s Human Rights Adviser Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, but was referred to house committees on human rights and law and justice on the demand of senators who, otherwise, supported its objective. The committees were asked to present a report to the house on the first day of the next session likely to be held in the third week of next month.

The senators, while describing the human rights environment in the country as dismal, referred to cases of enforced disappearances and the highhandedness of police and called for making the commission a powerful, impartial and trustworthy body.

Prof Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami voiced apprehension about the commission turning into a wing of the bureaucracy with a lot of political interference in its affairs. He raised objections against the procedure spelt out for appointment of members of the commission without specifying any qualification.

The only criterion is that a member shall not be less than 30 years of age and shall have knowledge and experience about human rights. The commission will have one member each from all provinces, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad and two from minority communities, with the condition that at least three members should be women.

Under the procedure, the federal government through a public notice will invite suggestions for ‘suitable persons’ for appointment as chairperson and members of the commission and after ‘proper scrutiny’ shall submit a list to the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the National Assembly.

The prime minister, in consultation with the leader of opposition, shall forward three names for each post to a parliamentary committee having equal representation from the treasury and opposition benches for hearing and confirmation of each case.

Haroon Akhtar Khan said there was room for manipulation to bring in favourites at least in the case of women.

“What will happen if only three women’s names are included in the proposed list?” a member asked.

Mr Khokar thanked the members for agreeing in principle with the objectives of the bill and promised to incorporate their suggestions.

He said the formation of the commission, which was basic criterion of the United Nations to judge the human rights commitment of states, had been pending for 18 years.

Mr Khokar said the first report on the human rights situation in the country would be presented to the United Nations in May, without hiding any aspect. In clear reference to enforced disappearances, he said these were individual acts and the state was not involved in such incidents.

Speaking on a point of order, S.M. Zafar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q explained that he had opposed a resolution seeking the arrest and trial of former ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf but his voice could not be heard by the chair. “Although the majority voted in favour of the resolution, it was not unanimously passed and the record needs to be corrected,” he said.

The absence of ministers from the house annoyed Deputy Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali who was presiding over the session. “Should the Senate be dissolved or they be administered tablets being provided by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology to patients?” he remarked.

The members also protested over the continued absence of ministers and said this attitude should be treated as contempt of the house.

The prime minister was also accused of ignoring the Senate with an observation that if he attended at least one sitting in each session, it would encourage the ministers to attach importance to the house.

Mr Jamali then adjourned the house till Thursday.