DIDI

To honour the memory of ” DIDI”, Nirmala Deshpande, a condolence meeting is being held at Dorab Patel Auditorium of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 107- Tipu Block, Lahore, on Wednesday, 7^th May 2008, at 5: 15 pm. You are requested to please attend.

Kindly inform other friends about this meeting.

A delegation of HRCP met with the Sindh President of Awami National Party, at Mardan House on April 30, 2008

HRCP has been holding consultations on human rights issues confronting the country. With a new democratically elected government in power, HRCP believes it is time to share concerns and proposals with political leaders.

Therefore, a delegation of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan comprising of Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt, Council Member of HRCP, Mr. Amarnath Motumal, Council Member of HRCP, Mr. Ejaz Ahsan, Program Coordinator, HRCP and Mr. Kashan Kashif had a meeting with Mr. Shahi Syed, President ANP Sindh at Mardan House on April 30, 2008.

HRCP delegation shared a copy of policy statement of HRCP on critical issues of human rights, for the consideration and support of ANP leadership . This policy statement was adopted by the General Body at HRCP’s Annual General Meeting held recently.

Mr. Shahi Syed promised moving necessary resolutions and bill for legislation wherever required, in the federal parliament as well as in the provincial assemblies for expeditious implementation of the recommendations of HRCP on human rights issues.

Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt, Council Member of HRCP also presented the recently published, Annual Report of HRCP “State of Human Rights in 2007″ to Mr. Shahi Syed.

Press Release, April 18, 2008

Karachi: In a statement issued to the press, Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan welcomes the ratification and signatures of three core UN human rights instruments by Pakistan

On Thursday, Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESR), which is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from January 3, 1976. It commits its parties to work toward the granting of economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) to individuals, including labour rights and rights to health, education, and an adequate standard of living.  The ICESCR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the latter’s first and second Optional Protocols.

HRCP notes with appreciation that the truly elected Government of Pakistan has accepted the long outstanding demand of the human rights activists by signing and rectifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as well as Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).  CAT is an international human rights instrument, under the purview of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture around the world.  The Convention advises states to take effective measures to prevent torture within their borders, and forbids states to return people to their home country if there is reason to believe they will be tortured.  The text of the Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1984 and, following ratification by the 20th state party, it came into force on 26 June 1987; 26 June is now recognised as the International Day in Support of Torture Victims, in honour of the Convention

Mr. Haider said that the ratification and signatures of these three crucial UN human rights instruments are indeed significant step forward by the present elected Government of Pakistan in fulfilling its pledges and commitment to promote human rights of the people of Pakistan in accordance with international human rights law. Joining the main international human rights instruments reflects the commitment of the democratic Government to promote and further strengthen the mechanism to protect the human rights of the people in Pakistan, including the rights of women, children, minorities and the unprivileged.

Mr Haider emphasized that implementation of these very important UN human rights conventions, is an equally important task of the present Government and he hoped it will follow and abide by these UN instruments, in their letter and spirit.

Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson

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.

Press Release April 11, 2008

Karachi: In a joint statement issued to the press, Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Ghazi Salahuddin, the Vice Chairperson of HRCP Sindh Chapter, have strongly condemned the killing of Jagdish Kumar for alleged blasphemy and demanded that a high level judicial inquiry be conducted into this tragic incident.  

Dozens of Muslim workers at a factory in Karachi beat to death a Hindu colleague on Tuesday for alleged blasphemy. Jagdish Kumar, 27, was tortured and killed at a leather factory in Korangi Industrial Area for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Prophet.  Hindus make up less than two percent of the population of this overwhelmingly Muslim nation of 160 million people.  Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, although no one has ever been executed for it; however, communal tensions often run high whenever accusations of blasphemy are made, the statement said.

Incidents such as this in which people take the law into their own hands, meting out justice to alleged offenders, are shocking and deeply disturbing. This kind of vigilantism is encouraged by growing intolerance in society which itself is a result of laws that target the more vulnerable sections of society.

HRCP demands an immediate judicial inquiry into this tragic incident and urges the Government to take strong measures to prevent similar recurrences. The blasphemy laws, themselves, need to be repealed, the statement concluded.

Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson

Ghazi Salahuddin, Vice Chairperson Sindh Chapter

Press Release, April 10

Lahore: While condemning the Tuesday’s violence in Karachi, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for a probe by international experts. In a statement issued here today, the commission said:

What happened in Karachi on Wednesday, especially the burning alive of several innocent Pakistanis, can only be condemned as acts of utterly horrible bestiality. The hands behind what is obviously a counter-offensive by the camp hostile to lawyers’ campaign must be exposed and the culprits, if it is possible to apprehend them, made to face justice. Unfortunately the MQM leaders have deemed it necessary to direct their customary fulminations at HRCP, although they know that HRCP has always denounced civil strife and stood by the victims regardless of their colours. As for their shrieks as to where HRCP and Asma Jahangir are, they are where the MQM satraps used to find them in their hour of distress and where they will be found if and when the MQM bosses start receiving the bills for their deeds. We regret that HRCP does not have the resources to investigate the latest wave of violence and arson, and certainly not the tribulations of the mafia-controlled population of Karachi. The difficulties in probing incidents of violence in which the highest in the land are apparently involved are obvious. The acts of patently motivated violence witnessed in the country over the past few days demand high-level probe by international experts, although their success too cannot be taken for granted. HRCP is convinced that united action by the entire nation alone can overcome the forces that are threatening not only to thwart the state’s transition to democracy but also its integrity.

Mehdi Hasan HRCP Vice- Chairperson

Musarrat Hilali HRCP-Vice-Chairperson

Press Release, April 9

Lahore: No words are strong enough to condemn the unpardonable violence inflicted upon Arbab Ghulam Raheem in Karachi and Dr. Sher Afgan in Lahore. Both will cause the people distress, shame and anger for years to come. The victims’ record may not be such as to make any defenders of justice and democracy envious, and their warped view of human rights is known, but every human rights activist will defend their right to disagree and their right to personal safety and dignity. Both incidents must be thoroughly probed and no quarter shown to those responsible for committing violence as well as those who failed in their duty to quell disorder. But that won’t be enough.

Both incidents reveal the extent to which long periods of dictatorship have brutalized the Pakistan society, and how professional gangsters of old days have been joined in criminal acts by educated professionals. The Karachi incident invited indictment of political workers and the Lahore horror stigmatized the lawyers. One should still like to hope that both these groups realize their stake in fostering democracy and justice. As neither of the two incidents appeared to be a fortuitous affair there is ground to suspect that the traditional enemies of democracy might be up to their nefarious tricks. But that only increases the responsibility of political activists and lawyers to avoid being trapped or exploited. It is good that the bar leaders have condemned Tuesday’s disgraceful episode but the Bar Council must also hold an independent inquiry. They have to save their movement from coming to grief as a result of the excesses or weakness of a few of them. The situation does not allow the luxury of evading responsibility.

Not surprisingly the diehard enemies of democracy have raised a chorus of vilification against the yet-to-be-installed governments and some of them want to divert attention from the blood of innocents on their hands by abusing human rights activists. They will never succeed in converting the people to their creed of rule by force and fraud but all those who stand by the people’s rights must now get started on satisfying the citizens’ aspirations for peace, democratic freedoms and economic relief. That alone will enable them to overcome the monster of intolerance reared by despotism.

Asma Jahangir, Chaiperson

Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson

Press Release, April 1, 2008 

Karachi:  In a joint statement issued to the press, Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Ghazi Salahuddin, the Vice Chairperson of HRCP Sindh Chapter, has strongly condemned the assault on Monday on Dr. Riaz, Professor of Applied Chemistry in Karachi University by Pakistan Rangers, deployed at the university.

The incident occurred following a clash between two student groups. The Rangers deployed in the campus closed all entry and exit gates after the clash. When Dr Riaz was leaving the campus at 5 p.m., the Rangers stopped his car at Silver Jubilee gate and after some harsh words they brutally hit him with batons, causing severe injuries. He was then taken to the Aga Khan Hospital by a group of teachers and students.

HRCP demands stern action against the culprits, and urges the Karachi University authorities to immediately file an FIR against them to ensure justice for the honorable professor of the university.

Iqbal Haider, Co-Chairperson
Ghazi Salahuddin, Vice Chairperson, Sindh Chapter

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

Statements of ICCO & Kerk in Actie and other doc’s in referral to Fitna, the Wilders movie 

Dear All,

Herewith you will find our official statement with regard to Mr. Geert Wilders, a populist Dutch politician and Member of Parliament, of who released a 15-minute anti-Islam video on TV and the internet.

Although many people in The Netherlands were concerned by Wilders’ film plans, our much appreciated laws on freedom of speech did not allow for a pre-emptive action. ICCO & Kerk in Actie feel however that the balance between freedom of speech on the one hand and respect for people, cultures and religions on the other hand has been impaired by this film.

ICCO & Kerk in Actie are convinced that the anti-Islamic sentiments expressed by this film are not shared by the majority of the Dutch population .

The leadership of the churches in the Netherlands and many Moslem-organisations have also pronounced their rejection of the content of the film and have called for peaceful relations between religions. We want to make it absolutely clear that the film does  not in any way reflect any of ICCO & Kerk in Actie’s values and viewpoints. On the contrary, ICCO & Kerk in Actie uphold inclusiveness as its core value and as the main driving force behind its strategic plan and its operations. ICCO & Kerk in Actie actively promote inter-religious dialogue as an important vehicle for peace, reconciliation and human development and seek to connect people, rather than divide them.

Please feel free to respond to this email. We would like to hear from our partner organizations how the common people in your country perceive this film in particular and how this might affect your organization working with Dutch organizations like ours.  

In peace!

Raymond Bernardus

ICCO, Program officer Afghanistan, Pakistan  

STATEMENT

“You will probably have learned that Mr. Geert Wilders, a populist Dutch politician and Member of Parliament, has released a 15-minute anti-Islam video on TV and the internet.

Although many people in The Netherlands were concerned by Wilders’ film plans, our much appreciated laws on freedom of speech did not allow for a pre-emptive action. ICCO & Kerk in Actie feel however that the balance between freedom of speech on the one hand and respect for people, cultures and religions on the other hand has been impaired by this film.

ICCO & Kerk in Actie are convinced that the anti-Islamic sentiments expressed by this film are not shared by the majority of the Dutch population . The leadership of the churches in the Netherlands and many Moslem-organisations have also pronounced their rejection of the content of the film and have called for peaceful relations between religions. We want to make it absolutely clear that the film does  not in any way reflect any of ICCO & Kerk in Actie’s values and viewpoints. On the contrary, ICCO & Kerk in Actie uphold inclusiveness as its core value and as the main driving force behind its strategic plan and its operations. ICCO & Kerk in Actie actively promote inter-religious dialogue as an important vehicle for peace, reconciliation and human development and seek to connect people, rather than divide them. “

Utrecht,  Friday 28^th of March 2008

Hans Brüning

Director International Programme

Netherlands Government’s reaction to Wilders’ film

 28 Mar 2008 | Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has reacted to the film Fitna that MP Geert Wilders has released on the internet today. 

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende: “On behalf of the Dutch government, I would like to respond to the online film by Mr Wilders. The film shows images of violent acts and holds Islam and the Koran responsible for them. The government condemns such acts and those who commit them. The film equates Islam with violence. We reject this interpretation. The vast majority of Muslims reject extremism and violence. In fact, the victims are often also Muslims.  We therefore regret that Mr Wilders has released this film. We believe it serves no purpose other than to cause offence. But feeling offended must never be used as an excuse for aggression and threats. The government is heartened by the initial restrained reactions of Dutch Muslim organisations. Muslims, Christians and people of other convictions can easily live together in peace. The problem is not religion, but misuse of religion to sow hatred and intolerance. That is why we are calling for respect for everyone’s deepest convictions. We are aware of the concerns and the sentiments about this film in the international Muslim community. We have recently spoken with many people at home and abroad to promote mutual understanding. We will continue to follow this course. 

The Dutch government stands for a society in which freedom and respect go hand in hand. Such a society demands dedication and commitment. We oppose extremism. Anyone who breaks the law is dealt with firmly. Let us solve problems by working together. Let us reach out to others and build confidence and trust. Let us conquer prejudice. We shall surely succeed.

 28 mrt 2008 | Minister-president Balkenende heeft een reactie gegeven naar aanleiding van de film Fitna van Tweede Kamerlid Wilders (PVV), die vandaag op internet is uitgekomen. 

De verklaring van minister-president Balkenende:

“Namens de Nederlandse regering reageer ik op de internetfilm van de heer Wilders.

De film toont beelden van gruweldaden en stelt de Islam en de Koran daarvoor verantwoordelijk. De regering veroordeelt zulke daden en de plegers ervan.

In de film wordt de Islam gelijk gesteld met het plegen van gruweldaden. Wij verwerpen deze voorstelling van zaken. Het overgrote deel van de moslims verwerpt extremisme en geweld. De slachtoffers zijn juist vaak moslims.

Wij betreuren het dan ook dat de heer Wilders deze film naar buiten heeft gebracht. Wij zien niet welk doel deze film dient, anders dan het kwetsen van gevoelens. Deze mogen overigens nooit een excuus zijn voor agressie en bedreigingen. De regering voelt zich gesteund door de evenwichtige eerste reacties van moslimorganisaties in Nederland.

Moslims, christenen en mensen met andere levensovertuigingen kunnen heel goed met elkaar leven. Het probleem is niet de godsdienst, maar misbruik van godsdienst om haat en onverdraagzaamheid te zaaien. Daarom vragen wij respect voor ieders diepste overtuigingen.

We kennen de zorgen en gevoelens die in de internationale moslimgemeenschap leven met betrekking tot deze film. In de afgelopen tijd hebben we contact gelegd met velen binnen en buiten ons land om het onderlinge begrip te versterken. Daar gaan we volop mee door.

De Nederlandse regering staat voor een samenleving waarin vrijheid en respect hand in hand gaan. Zo’n samenleving vraagt inzet en vastberadenheid. Extremisme bestrijden we. Wie de wet overtreedt pakken we hard aan. Laten we samenwerken aan het oplossen van problemen. Laten we bruggen slaan naar de ander en werken aan vertrouwen. Laten we vooroordelen overwinnen. Dat moet lukken.”