ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights and has chalked out necessary programmes in connection with the celebration of Human Rights Day on December 10.

The human rights wing of the ministry has issued instructions to its regional offices to take all measures for creating awareness among the masses.

Seminars have been arranged at all the four provincial capitals, in which renowned experts will enlighten the people about the sanctity of human rights.

The specific target groups are police officials, jail authorities and paramedic staff posted in various hospitals.

Seminars and related activities are underway in the federal capital with the objective of educating the masses about human rights.

It was some 54 years ago on this day, when the UN General Assembly adopted and promulgated a resolution called “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

Soon after its promulgation, Pakistan joined hands with the world community in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Various steps were taken to protect and develop human rights of the people, particularly of the vulnerable group, including women, children and minorities.

Meanwhile, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has expressed concern over lack of transparency associated with the formation of government and the continuing role of the military in the state affairs.

According to a statement issued by the SDPI here on Monday, it is imperative to critically evaluate how the new government has been formed and how it will fundamentally differ from the military regime.

It said the military government was responsible for numerous human rights violations, including the use of anti-terrorist legislation and violence against poor people.

These people include landless tenants, kutcha abadi dwellers, teachers, students, doctors, and fishing communities.

The military government also revoked the fundamental rights of public sector workers to unionize.

The statement said all of these steps severely threatened universally accepted norms of human rights.

The recently announced anti-terrorism law, which will allow the law enforcement authorities to arrest and detain suspected criminals for a year without charge, highlights the tremendous contradiction that exists, it added

The press release said the military should retreat from the political arena. Gen Musharraf’s presidency should be confirmed only once constitutional requirements have been fulfilled, it added.

The statement said all amendments either drafted or proposed should be reexamined by the parliament.

“The ongoing forced defections from the PPP to the PML-Q and PPP-Patriots indicated how undemocratic and contrived the new set-up is.” All pro-democracy and human rights forces should condemn these actions unequivocally and advocate for the government to act independently of instruction from the GHQ, it added.—Agencies