HYDERABAD, March 23: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Sunday condemned the US-led invasion of Iraq, rejected the Legal Framework Order, expressed concern over persisting tensions between India and Pakistan, efforts to enforce Shariah in some parts of the country as well as the construction of the Thal canal.
These views were expressed in a statement issued by the HRCP after the concluding session of its annual general meeting held here on Sunday.
Criticizing the theory of pre-emptive strike, the HRCP said that the US-led attack was designed to interfere with the territorial integrity of Iraq and deprive its people of their sovereign rights, adding that it tantamounted to giving wayward states a licence to mount aggression against weaker nations.
It also demanded an end to the practice of denying the people basic needs of life and social security under the excuse of scarcity of resources, adding that promises, inscribed in the Constitution’s chapter on principles of policy, needed to be transformed into justiciable rights. It also demanded that the state’s duty to respect the people’s economic, social and cultural rights be made mandatory.
The meeting called for halting attempts to change the character of the basic law were given up, and the process of destroying judiciary’s status and its independence was stopped.
The HRCP categorically rejected the Legal Framework Order, changes in the judicial structure and ordinances issued to curtail rights of workers and the freedom of expression.
These measures, it said, lacked due sanction and manifestly offend against constitutional propriety and interests of people, it said. The meeting noted that withdrawal of arbitrary measures or validation, where this was possible, must receive attention of all those who cherish constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for human rights.
The AGM expressed concern over the government’s stubbornness in pursuing the greater Thal canal project. It added that issues, related to use and distribution of water resources, needed to be resolved in accordance with principles of justice.
It pointed out that the violence against women continued to show a rising graph. Not only had the incidence of honour killings increased, the evil practice of karo-kari had found new defenders among rulers, it observed.
The meeting called upon the state authorities to pay immediate heed to women’s rights to freedom from oppressive Hudood ordinances and other forms of discrimination in law and in social practice.
The meeting expressed serious concern over persisting tension and confrontation between India and Pakistan and the grist this situation is providing to mills of intolerance and violence in the name of belief and creed. It called for a campaign for peace in South Asia.
The meeting deemed it necessary to call upon Islamabad to avoid dangerous arms race and any action that aggravated tension with neighbouring states.
The AGM rejected the claim of authorities that matters related to exploitation of Balochistan resources of gas, its transmission and distribution have been resolved. It demanded a complete review of existing agreements on this subject with a view to ensuring due benefit to the disadvantaged people of the area and establishment of any arrangement based on justice and equity.
It expressed anxiety over efforts launched in some parts of the country to enforce the Shariah and added that this drift would extend the area of abuse of belief, undermine message of Islam and cause further distortions in officials policies and conduct to disadvantage of people.
The AGM condemned oppression and harassment of tenants of state lands, particularly in Okara and Khanewal and some parts of the NWFP, the use of violence and abuse of law and authority, depriving them of their rights.
President of the HRCP Afrasayab Khattak presided over the meeting. Prominent among those, who attended the meeting, were Asma Jehangir, Hina Jillani, I. A. Rehman, Hussain Naqi, Iqbal Haider and Saleem Asmi.