Stop Kurram Agency killings: HRCP

Press release, July 21, 2008

 

Lahore: The government must immediately put an end to bloodshed in Kurram Agency and restore its writ in a region held hostage by terrorists engaged in sectarian violence, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said in a press statement on Monday.

 

The Commission said: “The people of Kurram Agency have been suffering horrific sectarian violence at the hands of home-bred and foreign terrorists since April 2007. For over a year, the main road connecting the agency to the rest of Pakistan has been occupied by militants who close it as and when they please. Ambulances have been attacked, innocent people slaughtered and dismembered bodies in sacks found dumped by the roadside. Heavy weapons are used to target peaceful civilian neighbourhoods. Communication and water supply systems have been destroyed, and the local economy ruined.

 

The situation has grown from bad to worse. There is little evidence that government’s efforts to restore law and order have worked so far.

 

The agency has been virtually cut off from the rest of the country, prices of essentials have hit the sky, development activities have suspended and closure of courts and government offices are causing serious problems for the people living in the agency.

 

The government needs to act in a manner to restore confidence of this area’s people in rule of law and the government’s ability to ensure rights for the people. The government needs to ensure that Kurram residents are duly protected.

 

Asma Jahangir, Chairperson

HRCP Annual Report 2007

The HRCP Annual Report 2007 is now online. Please visit the HRCP website or click here to be directed to the report. You can also purchase the hardcopy from the main office. Please send in your purchase enquiries to hrcp@hrcp-web.org.

 

Statistics for the year 2007 have also been uploaded. Please click on the following links to see stats for:

• Children
• Women
• Suicides
• Prisons, Death Penalty
• Sectarian Violence

The introduction and main highlights are on the link and HRCP stands and activities for the entire year are also included in the chapters for downloads.

 

HRCP State of Human Rights 2007 - Released!

The HRCP State of Human Rights in 2007 has been released. 

It will be available for download on the website shortly. UPDATE: The report is now online on the website. Please click here to be directed to the report.

 

The report covers the following topics:

1.      Rule of law

1.1.   Laws and law-making

1.2.   Administration of justice

2.      Enforcement of law

2.1.   Law and order

2.2.   Jails, prisoners and ‘disappearances’

3.      Fundamental freedoms

3.1.   Freedom of movement

3.2.   Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

3.3.   Freedom of expression

3.4.   Freedom of assembly

3.5.   Freedom of association

4.      Democratic development

4.1.   Political participation

5.      Rights of the disadvantaged

5.1.   Women

5.2.   Children

5.3.   Labour

6.      Social and economic rights

6.1.   Education

6.2.   Health

6.3.   Housing

6.4.   Environment

6.5.   Refugees

7.      Appendices

7.1.   HRCP activities

7.2.   HRCP stands

Human rights have suffered in Pakistan

Press Release, March 13

Lahore: The situation of human rights and of human rights defenders in Pakistan has seriously deteriorated over the past year, according to the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

FIDH said this in a communiqué following a recent fact-finding mission in Pakistan in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Feb 24-Mar 3) to assess the situation of human rights and of human rights defenders in the country.

FIDH said that among the most flagrant human rights violations that the mission documented were “enforced “disappearances”, generalised attacks against civilian population during popular gatherings, or during military operations, repression of movements seeking recognition of their identity, in particular in Balochistan, deterioration of the condition of women, discrimination against religious minorities, restrictions to the freedom of the media, persecution, summary and arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders”.

FIDH faulted US interference in Pakistan for the deterioration. “Many of those attacks are committed under the guise of the fight against terrorism, with the active support of the United States. The interference of this foreign power in Pakistan contributes in a significant way to the deterioration of human rights in the region.”

The mission called for an immediate release of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and his family; reinstatement of deposed judges; respect for the physical and psychological integrity of all Pakistani human rights defenders; and respect for the independence of the judiciary.

The mission called upon the political parties emerging as significant players after the February 18 elections to work for the rule of law in Pakistan, through human rights protection, non-discrimination, notably based on gender or the religion and freedom of expression.

Iqbal Haider

Secretary-General

HRCP: Dissatisfaction at Scotland Yard Report

Press Release, February 9, 2008 

Lahore: Pakistanis are looking for a dignified closure to the tragic assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Scotland Yard findings do not satisfy the basic requirements of any investigation. In addition, there is also a contradiction in the report as all those present in the car of late Mohtarma Bhutto confirmed that the explosion took place seconds after she slumped back into her seat in the vehicle. The findings of the report on the one hand admit that “what happened was complicated by the lack of an extended and detailed search of the crime scene, the absence of an autopsy, and the absence of recognized body recovery and victim identification processes”, and yet it concludes that “nevertheless, the evidence that is available is sufficient for reliable conclusions to be drawn”. A categorical conclusion in the absence of basic forensic and freedom of deposition by doctors can only be viewed as a hunch of the investigators. Other observers in Pakistan have different intuitions but the fundamental objective of any investigation must be of categorically identifying the authors, perpetrators, and accomplices of the attack. This has not been achieved and cannot be reached by an investigation that is carried out under the shadows of the present authorities. A proper investigation must go deeper into establishing the links of those suspected, so far arrested, or identified by Mohtarma herself or her family.

The murder of late Benazir Bhutto has left a huge vacuum in the political arena and severe wounds on the people of Pakistan. 

Uncovering the truth of this most tragic crime is crucial for Pakistan. Without it, there can be no reconciliation amongst Pakistani society and acts of violence will be feared but not wholly condemned or resisted. An impartial investigation will have wider positive implications. The lives of several innocent Pakistanis too have been lost to acts of violence and yet no credible investigation has been carried out. Future lives are at stake as is now evident by the bomb blast in Charsada. It is therefore imperative that in the interest of the people of Pakistan a United Nations led investigation into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and the sources of violence in Pakistan be carried out. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto believed in justice and not revenge. An impartial investigation will lead to the truth being uncovered and for the wheels of justice to its natural course.  

Asma Jahangir

Chairperson

HRCP: Civil society for change at the top, fairplay and citizens’ rights

Press release

Civil society for change at the top, fairplay and citizens’ rights

Activists of civil society organizations and concerned citizens, including representatives of the four provinces, met at HRCP office in Lahore on January 4^th 2008 to discuss the over-all situation and the upcoming elections and summed up their concerns and demands in the following statement:

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has made the situation in Pakistan much worse. Elections have been postponed despite the demand by the main parties, including the most severely affected PPP, to stick to the scheduled date of January 8 2008. The new date for elections has been set for February 18, but there are apprehensions of further postponement and lawlessness. General Musharraf’s decision to use the army during and after the elections is ominous as it aims to stifle dissent and public opinion through the use of force. The participants demanded that there must be no further delay in elections as this will only exacerbate the crisis of state and society.

The participants condemned lawlessness regardless of the identity of culprits but insisted that a clear distinction must be made between those who have indulged in looting and destroyed public property and those who gave vent to their spontaneous grief and shock. They expressed concern at reports that the government is using these disturbances as an excuse to enter people’s homes, arrest thousands of party workers and create an environment of fear. The participants strongly and unequivocally condemned the attempt to give an ethnic colour to the tragedy and its aftermath for electoral advantage. They demanded that all political workers must be released immediately and allowed to exercise their democratic rights, otherwise the tendency to single out and blame one party for the disturbances will send wrong signals to the victims and further undermine the federal bond.

It is time for General Musharraf and everyone else to recognize that he is now a major part of the problem rather than a part of the solution. He must accept responsibility for actions and developments that have contributed to the national crisis, especially since August 2006, such as the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti in Balochistan: the firing of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, mishandling of the Lal Masjid incident, removal of the majority of the superior judiciary, imposition of Martial Law under the guise of Emergency and the absolute failure to make adequate security arrangements that resulted in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He should quit office forthwith, and allow the assemblies that will come into existence after the elections to elect the president.

Noting that an independent judiciary is critical to the functioning of a democratic state and order in society, the participants called for the restoration of the judges who have been illegally removed from office. The independence of the judiciary cannot become a reality unless the key institution of the superior judiciary is strong and secure. The judges who took a principled stand rather than follow the precedent of bowing to the whims of the executive have set a very different standard for the institution, eliciting country-wide resonance. Their phenomenal act must be fully and unequivocally endorsed by political parties and society at large. And this can only be done, operationally, by ensuring their restoration. The participants called upon both the parties participating in and those boycotting the elections to come together to ensure the restoration of the superior judiciary.

The independence of the judiciary and the promotion of people’s democratic aspirations has been the central concern of the lawyers’ movement. Bar associations have led a remarkable struggle since March 2007 and put up with state oppression and all kinds of other hardships without faltering. Participants were of the view that the lawyers should be extended full support by the other sections of civil society and political parties to continue their struggle.

The participants demanded repeal of the PEMRA ordinance and removal of all restrictions on the media.

The meeting noted that the real menace of militancy and extremism has to be contested politically. Under no circumstance must force be used indiscriminately as such a policy has led to the death of innocent civilians. This is the inevitable fall-out of an undemocratic state and lack of consensus on the basis of a political strategy. In this regard the meeting took a serious view of General Musharraf’s snide and derogatory comments on Pakistani society which he claims is not developed enough to deserve democracy and democratic institutions. Such unmerited denigration is what emboldens the regime’s external patrons, the United States in particular, to assume that Pakistan can deserve nothing better than autocracy and rule by decree. The government’s continued collusion with the US administration has seriously damaged Pakistan’s sovereignty and turned it into a rentier state that puts the interest of the US before the interests of its own people.

The participants noted that the government’s claim of good governance and economic growth are belied by the rising cost of food and essential items. A minimum of eight-hour power cuts, shortages of water and gas are seriously impacting ion people’s lives and livelihoods. As always, the worst hit are the vulnerable sections of society: the poor, women, minorities and children.

The manifestos of the political parties taking part in the elections were discussed at the meeting. While appreciating the parties’ efforts to address the many issues confronting the state and the people, the participants expressed the view that greater attention needed to be paid to the means of combating religious extremism, discrimination against women, minorities and the economically marginalized. It was also necessary to plan for the elimination of poverty and guarantee a fair deal to the tillers of the soil and the working people.

There was unanimity on the point that Pakistan’s tribulations will not end so long as the socio-political economic system was not changed. This means that even after the polls - and assuming the acceptance of results by the people – those sitting in assemblies and those boycotting the polls both will face the challenge of putting the state back on the rails. The people of Pakistan call upon the political parties to knit together and integrate all parts of the federation and to reform all legal, administrative and political structures so as to end denial of full citizenship and other basic rights to the peoples of the Northern Areas and FATA, and to adopt measures that could ensure that equity and justice will govern the relationship between the provinces. Without such steps, no progress will be possible.

I. A. Rehman

Director HRCP

HRCP condemns extended detention of Aitzaz Ahsan,Ali Kurd,Tariq Mehmood

PRESS STATEMENT Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Karachi: Senator (R) Iqbal Haider, Secretary General of HRCP, in a Statement issued to the Press has strongly condemned extension of the illegal detention of Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, President of Supreme Court Bar Association as well as of Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd, Member of the Pakistan Bar Council and the continued illegal detention of Mr. Justice (R) Tariq Mehmood, Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association. This illegal decision of the present regime is not only without any legal or moral reason or justification but is on account of personal vengeance and vendetta, only because these senior leaders of the lawyers community had successfully pleaded the case of the Chief Justice Mr. Justice Iftekhar Muhammad Chaudhary and have played and are continuing to play a commendable heroic role in the lawyers movement for independence of judiciary, rule of law, freedom of press and restoration of true uncontrolled democracy.

Mr. Haider expressed his shock and dismay that despite repeated requests to the federal and provincial governments as well as to the jail authorities, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsas, who is also a prominent central leader of PPP, Former Federal Minister and MNA was not even allowed, against all norms of decency and ethics, to attend the funeral or soyam or to personally offer condolence to the bereaved family and his party peers on the most condemnable tragic assassination of his leader Mohtarma Banazir Bhutto. This is height of vengeance, vendetta, bias and prejudice of the regime, who is hell bent upon to deny Barrister Ahsan the right to interact with his colleagues in PPP and members of the Bar.

Mr. Haider recalled that one day before Eid-ul-Azha Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan was released for three days to enable him to celebrate Eid but was re-arrested on the same day at Chakri interchange on the motorway and was manhandled by plainclothes policemen. He was then driven around and about Chakri and Chakwal in the middle of the night in an open police van and brought to Lahore in the morning. The reprieve granted to him was also cancelled.

The HRCP Secretary General has demanded forthwith release of Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Mr. Justice (R) Tariq Mahmood, Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd and all other lawyers and warned the Government that at this crucial juncture and worst crises being faced political condition in the country will further aggravate if such illegal and vindictive policy and actions are not forthwith withdrawn by the regime.

Senator (R) Iqbal Haider
Secretary General

HRCP assails vigilantes

PRESS RELEASE Lahore, January 01

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for immediate disbandment of vigilante squads maintained by the establishment or its favourite political party as their interference with citizens’ normal affairs is not only unlawful it would lead to chaos. In a statement issued here today HRCP said:

On Monday night (Dec. 31) a most deplorable incident took place in Gulberg area. A few young girls, including Muneeza Jahangir, HRCP Chairperson’s daughter and a well-known TV producer / reporter, accompanied by a couple of young men, decided to take photographs of some election posters. Suddenly a bunch of armed toughs pounced upon them, mercilessly beat up a young man, dragged the girls and shut them up in the office of the son of the outgoing Punjab Chief Minister. The armed goons abused the girls and threatened them by pointing their guns at them, and offered the same treatment to Ms. Asma Jahangir when she arrived at the scene to rescue the girls. These men had no right or authority to resort to violence and imprison their victims in private premises. Worse, the culprits seemed to enjoy local authorities’ patronage and were reportedly backed by a couple of police constables in uniform. HRCP calls for immediate disbandment of all such private storm-troopers as their unlawful activities will pose a serious threat to citizens’ life and security and plunge society into a total chaos. The interim rulers must probe the matter and call the guilty to account, that is, if they have the power to do so.

Iqbal Haider
Secretary-General

HRCP condoles the death of Benazir Bhutto

PRESS RELEASE, December 27, 2007

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is shocked and deeply grieved at the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Chairperson, Pakistan People’s Party.

HRCP strongly condemns the barbaric act and demands an inquiry by an international team of investigators. The Commission holds the Government of Pakistan and all the law enforcing authorities under it, responsible for this tragedy. It notes that in spite of the suicide attack on the former prime minister’s convoy in Karachi in October and her frequent concerns of safety communicated to the authorities, adequate protection was not provided.

HRCP salutes the courage of Benazir Bhutto who, in spite of threats to her life, continued to address public rallies and be close to the people. She demonstrated in life and in death her commitment to the revival of a democratic process in Pakistan.

Issued on behalf of the HRCP Council (governing body).

Asma Jahangir,Chairperson,

Iqbal Haider, HRCP Secretary General

Zohra Yusuf, HRCP Vice Chairperson, Sindh

Mr. I. A. Rehman - Director, Mr. Shahid Kardar - Treasurer, Mr. Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani (Advocate) - Vice-Chairperson Balochistan, Mr. Kamran Arif - Vice-Chairperson NWFP, Ms. Hina Jilani - Vice-Chairperson Punjab, and HRCP Council Members Mrs. Surriya Amirrudin, Ms. Rahila Durrani, Mr. Tahir Husain Khan, Mr. Malik Adeel Mengal, Mr. Habib Tahir, Mr. Afrasiab Khattak, Advocate, Ms. Musarrat Hilali, Mr. Sher Mohammad Khan, Ms. Salima Hashmi, Dr. Mubashar Hasan, Dr. Mehdi Hasan, Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry, Ms. Shahtaj Qizilbash, Mr. Nadeem Anthony, Mr. Attiq-ur-Rehman, Advocate, Ms. Uzma Noorani, Mr. Rochi Ram, Ms. Perveen Soomro (Advocate), Mr. Ali Hasan, Mr. Jam Saqi, Mr. Ronald de Souza, Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, Mr. Amarnath Motumal, and Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt.

HRCP: invitation to participate in a Consultation on Workers’ Rights

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan cordially invites you to participate in a Consultation on Workers’ Rights

On Friday, December 28, 2007, at 09:30 am

At Crown B, Regent Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Karachi

RSVP

HRCP Karachi Chapter

Ph: (021) 5637131 / 32

Fax: (021) 5637133

E-mail: hrcp@cyber.net.pk