HYDERABAD, May 28: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and former chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Asma Jehangir has urged both India and Pakistan to avoid war because even the richest countries in the world today could not afford war.

At the same time she asked President Pervez Musharraf to resort to what she described ‘de-jihadization’ in the country because it was far more necessary for the people.

She said that there was great worry about an imminent war between the two nuclear powers of the subcontinent.

Speaking to this correspondent on Sunday in Khipro after attending a Hari Convention, Ms Asma said that war could be avoided and it must be avoided at all costs because it was always the last resort.

She said that the rulers would have to set the tone for dialogue.

She called upon India to lift the ban imposed on people-to-people contact.

Ms Asma stressed the need for public diplomacy and people-to-people contact.

She came hard on jihadi forces in the country saying that the jihadi industry was the worst thing for our domestic concerns.

She said that in the wake of the post-September 11 scenario the government would have to review its policy viz-a-viz jihadi forces.

She, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of practical measures against jihadis. “We have enough of rhetoric on the part of General Pervez Musharraf but he is zero at delivery.”

She said that Gen Musharraf had lost his credibility.

Referring to the forthcoming general elections, she called for immediate removal of the chief election commissioner, adding that under him she did not expect fair elections.

She opined that she was least bothered about who was coming into power but was more concerned about transparent and fair elections being held.

Ms Asma asserted that in case the witch-hunting of politicians continued then the government would complicate the issues.

She said, “One thing is absolutely clear that if the people are less fond of corrupt politicians, then they are lesser fond of a military regime in the country.”

She exhorted the government to begin the democratic process from somewhere without delay.

Severely criticizing the proposed National Security Council, she said that since it was backed by an army president, therefore it was a negation of restoring real democracy.

PRIVATE JAILS: Meanwhile, Asma Jehangir has made it clear that all the private jails would be eliminated wherever they exist.

She said this while talking to a delegation of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, led by Dr Mir Alam Marri, at Khipro on Sunday.

He strongly pleaded the case of Achro Thar, asking the HRCP chairperson to constitute a fact-finding team to highlight his issue, which had been neglected by the government.

He said that this area had no resources right from water to drainage, and from health to education.

Mr Mari said that the agriculture of the province had been ruined during the last couple of years.