Human Rights - Pakistan edition

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Watch has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to make human rights a key focus of his government since Pakistan faces serious human rights challenges, and addressing them should be one of the new government’s top priorities.

In a letter to PM Khan made public on Monday, the Asia Director of the Human Rights Watch, Brad Adams, urged the government to begin by reversing abusive laws and policies and demonstrating genuine commitment to the rule of law and equal justice.

In the letter, the Human Rights Watch urged the Pakistan government to take concrete steps to protect fundamental civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights in six key areas. “These are freedom of expression and attacks on civil society; freedom of religion and belief; violence against women and girls; access to education; restoring moratorium on death penalty; and terrorism and counterterrorism abuses.

“Imran Khan has an important opportunity to create a rights-respecting government that abides by the rule of law and restores the public faith in democratic institutions. It is crucial for Pakistan’s development for the government to actively carry out human rights agenda,” the rights watchdog said.

It said that a climate of fear impeded media coverage of abuses both by government security forces and militant groups. Journalists increasingly practice self-censorship after numerous attacks by militant groups, including the Taliban, in retaliation for criticism, particularly around their extremist diktats. Media outlets remain under pressure from the authorities to avoid reporting on several issues, including criticism of government institutions and the judiciary.

“The PTI has been a strong proponent of free expression, including on social media, to criticise state policy and press for change. An independent media is key to robust dialogue that reflects public concerns. Human Rights Watch hopes that the PTI government will foster a culture of political tolerance for media criticism,” the HRW said.

It urged the Pakistan government to amend the blasphemy law, as a first step towards its repeal. In the past two years, it said, Pakistan had witnessed an increase in blasphemy-related violence while the government continued to encourage discriminatory persecution and other forms of discrimination against vulnerable groups by failing to repeal discriminatory laws and using religious rhetoric, inciting hatred against minorities.

The rights watchdog urged the prime minister to take steps to implement legislation against domestic violence, create and implement a comprehensive national action plan to end child marriages, and take measures to improve investigation and prosecution of cases of “honour” killing and acid attack.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1429390/hrw-asks-imran-to-make-human-rights-govts-top-priority

 

[MenInG]

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on Tuesday issued an acerbic rebuke to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) for writing to Prime Minister Imran Khan and asking him to address "serious human rights challenges" faced by Pakistan.

In a letter made public on Monday, HRW Asia Director Brad Adams had asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to make human rights a "key focus" of his government.

The letter urged the government to begin by reversing "abusive laws and policies" and demonstrating "genuine commitment to the rule of law and equal justice".

The HRW wants the government to focus on six key areas: "These are freedom of expression and attacks on civil society; freedom of religion and belief; violence against women and girls; access to education; restoring moratorium on death penalty; and terrorism and counter-terrorism abuses."

In response to the letter, Dr Mazari stated that "the prime minister and the government are committed to ensuring the human rights guaranteed to all Pakistani citizens under the Constitution."

"[...] We are well aware of the need to effectively enforce the laws regarding the enforcement of the human rights of all our citizens as well as the need to bring our national laws in alignment with our international legal commitments through the international treaties we have ratified. Our government is committed to ensuring the fulfillment of all our international obligations," the minister wrote.

The human rights minister said the government, therefore, does "not need to be informed or reminded of our human rights agenda."

She went on to ask that since the HRW claims to monitor human rights violations in over 90 countries, "I hope that would include the massive human rights violations being carried out as a matter of state policy by India in Indian Occupied Kashmir and by Israel in Palestine."

"I may have missed your monitoring reports on these, so would appreciate if you could refresh my memory," she retorted.

She added that she hoped the HRW will also take up the matter of human rights violations "by some European states against their Muslim citizens in the form of curtailing their rights to practice their religion freely and in the form of abuse of Islam and its Prophet [Muhammad] (Peace be upon him), in direct contravention of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms."

The human rights minister also said that she would like to be informed on how the NGO is "ensuring the rights of Muslim citizens to have their mosques and be able to dress and practice their religion freely and without ridicule in European states", which have seen an upsurge of xenophobia in recent years.

Dr Mazari signed off by saying that the government would always welcome positive suggestions, but "an NGO's institutional credibility will rest on its commitment to ensure human rights across the globe and not just in selective states."

 

[MenInG]

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the poor state of affairs in prisons, saying there is no rule of law inside jails of the country.

The remarks were made during the hearing of a case, initiated after a prisoner in Rawalpindi's Adiala Central Jail wrote a letter to the IHC CJ, detailing discriminatory behaviour of jail staffers towards prisoners based on their financial and social status.

During the hearing, the human rights ministry's director-general apprised the bench that influential prisoners were living in Adiala Jail’s hospital without any physical ailment. He added that the concerned minister also formed a fact-finding committee on the issue.

The official further said that the complaint redressal system at Adiala is dormant and before their announced visits, jail premises were fixed-up but this was in contrast to the reality. “The Adiala and Bhakar jail superintendents didn’t even know about the IHC order,” the official disclosed.

The jail authorities have not taken any measures for the betterment of prisoners, the official said, adding that Adiala housed 5,000 prisoners, although its maximum capacity is 2,000.

Justice Minallah remarked that those who were influential outside the jails were powerful inside as well. “There is discrimination between the influential and common prisoners,” the CJ said, adding that human rights violations in jails must be put an end to. He also directed the official to compile a report in this regard.

Addressing the human rights DG, the IHC judge said, “You will have to end these human rights violations in jails.” Justice Minallah also cited the example of murder convict Shahrukh Jatoi, who was enjoying a lavish lifestyle after his family rented out an entire floor of a hospital for him.

During the hearing, the deputy attorney general suggested that a high court judge should visit the prison to examine its condition. At this, Justice Minallah asked him whether he had been to jail. The lawyer responded he had visited jails in connection to jail trials. “I don’t mean jail trial, have you ever been sent to jail as a prisoner,” the judge retorted.

“A lot of lawyers were sent to jail during the judiciary restoration movement. If judges and ministers also spend some time there they will then develop some empathy,” the CJ added. “What is the problem in giving media access to the prisoners for interviews,” he inquired.

The HR DG said media should be a part of the fact-finding committee then. At this, the court adjourned the hearing till Feb 8.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233834...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI

 

[gani999]

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on Tuesday issued an acerbic rebuke to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) for writing to Prime Minister Imran Khan and asking him to address "serious human rights challenges" faced by Pakistan.

LOL, Shireen Mazari hasn't hesitated from citing HRW reports with relish on earlier occasions in her tirades against India or Israel. Now HRW blames Pakistan and she gets all worked up.

Whatever you say about HRW, they are one of the more unbiased observers out there and tend to hit everyone with the same stick. That they don't bootlick the Chinese is one of the best things about them

 

[PakLFC]

Where are these human rights when NATO and America bombs the entire world?. No need to listen to these hypocrites.

 

[MenInG]

They had no idea what was coming with the Shehbaz and Chalees Chors in power.

==

A group of academics, including Noam Chomsky, have written an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urging him to take action against the "deteriorating human rights situation in a Pakistan", especially after the ouster of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

"In the last two months, there has been an alarming rise in human rights violations in Pakistan, including suppression of freedom of speech; harassment and intimidation of journalists, social media users and political activists; [and] making of fake blasphemy cases against political rivals," said the letter dated May 26.

It also expressed concern over the arrest of political opponents, including former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, and other political activists over their social media posts. The letter said there were raids and cases against journalists and politicians with "electronic devices hacked, stolen and snatched".

The academics also took up the issue of blasphemy cases filed against PTI's leadership in the aftermath of an incident on the premises of Masjid Nabwi (SAW) earlier this year. It alleged that the government was abusing blasphemy laws for "political vendetta against political rivals".

"These trouble developments violate the minimal requirements of democratic government, fundamental freedoms under the Constitution of Pakistan, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"We strongly urge the relevant authorities in Pakistan to adhere to and ensure basic human rights including the right to freedom of opinion, and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion or belief."

Express Tribune

 

[Bewal Express]

They had no idea what was coming with the Shehbaz and Chalees Chors in power.

==

A group of academics, including Noam Chomsky, have written an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urging him to take action against the "deteriorating human rights situation in a Pakistan", especially after the ouster of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

"In the last two months, there has been an alarming rise in human rights violations in Pakistan, including suppression of freedom of speech; harassment and intimidation of journalists, social media users and political activists; [and] making of fake blasphemy cases against political rivals," said the letter dated May 26.

It also expressed concern over the arrest of political opponents, including former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, and other political activists over their social media posts. The letter said there were raids and cases against journalists and politicians with "electronic devices hacked, stolen and snatched".

The academics also took up the issue of blasphemy cases filed against PTI's leadership in the aftermath of an incident on the premises of Masjid Nabwi (SAW) earlier this year. It alleged that the government was abusing blasphemy laws for "political vendetta against political rivals".

"These trouble developments violate the minimal requirements of democratic government, fundamental freedoms under the Constitution of Pakistan, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

"We strongly urge the relevant authorities in Pakistan to adhere to and ensure basic human rights including the right to freedom of opinion, and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion or belief."

Express Tribune

We are living under a fascist govt and the worst thing is that their supporters and people in govt are boasting about their thuggery. We had some loser wanting the women to be given a beating for having the audacity to have their voice heard. Bajwa and his puppets are taking PK into dark days

 

[Browncaps]

We are living under a fascist govt and the worst thing is that their supporters and people in govt are boasting about their thuggery. We had some loser wanting the women to be given a beating for having the audacity to have their voice heard. Bajwa and his puppets are taking PK into dark days

Shocking. Please name and shame them.

 

[Bewal Express]

Shocking. Please name and shame them.

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] do you want to explain

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chomsky, one of world's most respected intellectuals, has added his voice to state oppression by this cabal of crooks foisted on Pak by US backed regime change conspiracy. Our democratic rights have been brutally violated, esp during our Haqiqi Azadi March <a href="https://t.co/70HnR6ExDC">https://t.co/70HnR6ExDC</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1538517165137076226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[daytrader]

The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) has said that it has received credible reports of abuses of authority in Pakistan.

"We are setting up a working group on this issue. We are currently gathering accurate information about what happened. We welcome any evidence and reliable news," it wrote on its official Twitter handle on Monday.

The development comes at a time when reports of abuse on some politicians and journalists have emerged in the country. Shahbaz Gill, a close aide of former prime minister Imran Khan, was arrested from Bani Gala Chowk in Islamabad a few days ago after a video clip of his controversial remarks aired on a television channel went viral on social media.

After seeing photos and videos showing Gill gasping for air while being taken to the court and hospital, the PTI chairman went to see Gill at the PIMS on Friday evening but was denied permission.

Imran Khan had claimed that Gill was being sexually abused while in police custody, vowing that he would leave no stone unturned to bring to justice those who were responsible for mentally and physically torturing his aide.

Videos of Gill also emerged on Monday in which he can be seen arguing with the doctors as they were forcing him to eat.

Meanwhile, journalist Jameel Farooqui was arrested in Karachi over 'falsely' accusing the Islamabad Police of 'custodial torture' of Shahbaz Gill.

The police maintained that Farooqui in his vlogs had accused the capital police of inflicting physical and sexual violence on former premier Imran Khan’s chief of staff.

Express Tribune

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan rejects US human rights report as ‘biased and politicised’​

Pakistan has outrightly dismissed the 2023 Country Report on human rights practices recently released by the United States State Department. "The contents of the report are unjust, relying on inaccurate information and are disconnected from the realities on the ground," stated the foreign office on Thursday.

In a strongly worded statement, the foreign office criticised the annual practice of the US State Department in preparing such reports, labeling them as lacking objectivity and flawed in methodology. It accused these reports of applying a domestic social lens to judge human rights situations in other nations, driven by political biases.

The 2023 Human Rights Report from the US State Department, unveiled this week, accused Pakistan and India of intimidating or seeking reprisals against individuals beyond their borders, including activists, defenders, and journalists. Both nations were indicted for significant human rights violations such as arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, torture, inhumane treatment, and arbitrary arrests, with a lack of accountability contributing to widespread impunity.

Furthermore, the report alleged that successive Pakistani governments tacitly endorsed enforced disappearances, citing figures from the government’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. It noted that out of 9,967 reported missing-person cases since 2011, 7,714 were resolved while 2,253 remained pending.

The report also highlighted military trials of civilians accused of rioting on May 9, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.

In response, the foreign office criticised the lack of objectivity in this year's report, asserting its politicisation of the international human rights agenda. It expressed deep concern over the report's oversight or downplaying of urgent human rights issues in places like Gaza and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan condemned the silence of the United States on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, highlighting the necessity for the report to address such pressing matters. Pakistan reiterated its commitment to strengthening its own human rights framework and engaging constructively in promoting the international human rights agenda with fairness and objectivity.

If the US continues this reporting practice, Pakistan expects the State Department to exercise due diligence, objectivity, impartiality, and responsibility, it said.

The FO urged the US State Department to speak truthfully about all situations and play a constructive role in supporting international efforts to end atrocities in regions facing severe human rights violations.

Pakistan rejects ‘unfair’ US report | The Express Tribune

State Department cites significant human rights abuses

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Whether they reject or accept, every Pakistani can testify that Pakistan is the worst in terms of human rights.