ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: Renowned human rights activist and director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) I.A. Rehman on Saturday termed feudalism the biggest hindrance in implementation of fundamental rights.

“Most of the laws were made by feudal lords so they cannot make any law against them,” he said while addressing National Conference on ‘State of Fundamental Rights in Pakistan.

The conference was organised by Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP) in collaboration with Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to mark the International Democracy Day.

I.A Rehman said that the educational institutions might undertake research over the human rights issues in Pakistan. “Since establishment of Pakistan, we are still facing feudalism, casteism and denial of rights to vulnerable segments of the society i.e minorities and women”, he added.

He also underlined the importance of harmony between culture and human rights.

Without correcting the mistakes made in the past, we cannot meet the challenges of present and future, he added.

Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director, HEC, said Pakistan and other Islamic countries were facing similar human rights issues.

He said that there was a need to promote culture of research and teaching on fundamental rights at educational institutions of Pakistan.Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Centre for Civic Education, Pakistan stressed the need of giving awareness of fundamental rights to society. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Chairperson Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, in his address of welcome said that the consortium and CCEP would continue to work together on various social problems being faced by Pakistani society.

On this occasion, Civic Courage Award for the year 2012 was given to I.A Rehman for 2011 to Miss Malala Youafzai (girl of Swat) while Civic Education Award was awarded to Baacha Khan Trust Educational Foundation.

Malala Youafzai in her remarks, narrated the various challenges and problems confronted by the people of Swat during Taliban occupation.

She termed pen as one of the most effective weapons to fight illiteracy and human rights violations.

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.