LAHORE, Dec 9: In a statement to mark the Universal Human Rights Day (Tuesday), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for redoubled efforts to arrest the deterioration of human rights situation in the country.
The HRCP statement, issued by Chairperson Afrasiab Khan and Secretary-General Hina Jilani, says:
While the restoration of democratic rights is still a matter of debate, Pakistanis will observe human rights day in a state of considerable anxiety.
Promises made by the new authorities since assuming charge of national affairs make no reference to human rights. This is despite the fact that the past year has seen an alarming deterioration in the rights situation for citizens.
Some of the factors contributing to this are as follows:
* The independence of the judiciary has been further curbed as a result of measures by the executive.
* The parliamentary system of government has been placed in jeopardy as a result of the vast expansion in the powers of an unelected president.
* The right to assembly remained suppressed through the year and was repeatedly used as a political weapon against opponents of the regime.
* Amendments in the Anti-Terrorism Act make it possible for citizens to be picked up on suspicion and detained for up to a year without charge.
* On military farms in Punjab, unarmed tenants have been gunned down by Rangers and efforts made to crush their movement by using brute face and open intimidation.
* The degree of violence used to suppress attempts by citizens to draw attention to their concerns has been virtually unprecedented. Teachers and doctors have faced fierce police baton-charges and tear gas while rallies by students, lawyers, peace activists, citizens attempting to prevent their houses from demolition and other groups have all been suppressed through the use of brute force.
* With poverty increasing, and at least 35 per cent of the country’s population today living below the poverty line, mass unemployment, continued downsizing and worsening socio-economic conditions are making life almost intolerable for a growing number of people.
* The situation for women in the country has continued to worsen. For the first time in over a decade, a woman was sentenced by a court to death by stoning. Another woman faced gang-rape as the result of a verdict awarded by a tribal gathering, while thousands of women across the country continue to face honour killings, rape, mutilation and domestic violence.
* Conditions for children are grimmer than ever. The continued failure to check child labour and the increase in the trafficking of children, particularly for use as camel jockeys, has contributed to this, while millions of children are denied an education, healthcare and other fundamental rights.
* New laws on the media and labour are regressive, and appear to be aimed to curb free expression and trade union activities.
* In Karachi, the building of the Lyari Expressway continues, despite an outcry from civic society groups appalled by the degree of suffering this has inflicted on at least 200,000 citizens.
The prevailing situation in the country demands urgent action from authorities. At the same time, it requires redoubled efforts from human rights activities. Greater solidarity among them and combined efforts are required to try and overcome the difficulties that exist and ensure that coming years will bring for citizens and improvement in the quality of life and a better protection of their most basic rights.
The HRCP will be deliberating on the human rights award on upholding the rule of law.