Ouster of Nawaz Sharif triggered turmoil, instability, says HRW Report 2018

[LegendInzi]

ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister last year triggered political turmoil and instability in the country.

“Political turmoil and instability engulfed Pakistan after Nawaz Sharif stepped down as prime minister in July after a five-member Supreme Court bench disqualified him based on investigations into corruption allegations,” reads the HRW annual report for 2018 issued on Friday.

It is for the first time that any international organisation has commented on the events that followed the ouster of Sharif in July after over year-long proceedings by the apex court.

The report apparently endorses the stance of ousted prime minister that his disqualification only added to the political uncertainty. Since his disqualification, the PML-N leader has adopted a hardline stance towards the judiciary and the security establishment.

Overall the HRW report 2018 paints a bleak picture of human rights situation in Pakistan during 2017.

It says although Pakistan witnessed fewer attacks by militants than in previous years, scores of people were killed in attacks primarily targeting law enforcement officials and religious minorities.

“Security forces remained unaccountable for human rights violations and exercised disproportionate political influence over civilian authorities, especially in matters of national security and counterterrorism,” it said.

In March 2017, parliament passed a constitutional amendment reinstating military courts to try terrorism suspects for another two years. Security forces were implicated in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings throughout the country, the report claims. At least 44 people on death row were executed in 2017, of whom 37 were executed after convictions by military courts.

Highlighting the Afghan refugees’ repatriation issue, it said Afghan refugees in Pakistan continued to face pressure from government authorities to return, although the number of repatriations decreased significantly from 2016.

According to the HRW report, in 2017 a surge was witnessed in the number of blasphemy-related violence while the government continued to encourage discriminatory prosecutions and other forms of discrimination against vulnerable groups.

At least 19 people remained on death row in 2017 after being convicted under blasphemy law, and hundreds awaited trial. Out of this majority of the people facing blasphemy are members of religious minorities—including Aasia Bibi, the first woman to face a potential death sentence for blasphemy.

The report also mentions brutal killing of Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student at a university in Mardan, over accusations that he made blasphemous remarks against Islamic injunctions.

Journalists increasingly practiced self-censorship after numerous attacks by security forces and militant groups in retaliation for critical articles. Media outlets remained under pressure to avoid reporting on or criticising human rights violations during counterterrorism operations.

“Human Rights Watch received several credible reports of intimidation, harassment, and surveillance of various NGOs by government authorities,” the report read.
Sharing his comments on this report, the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) Chairman Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan told the Express Tribune that Pakistan has become a ‘mini-killing field’.

He said one of the biggest challenges that Pakistan faces is enforced disappearances aimed at shutting down dissent or gaining personal leverage, with multiple accusations leveled against state agencies.

“Hate speech and extremism are festering, leading to forced conversions of minority communities in Tharparkar, Kalash, among others, and an increase in sectarian killings of Hazara Shias in Balochistan, and other religious minorities all over the country,” he said.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1613262/1-ouster-sharif-triggered-turmoil-instability-says-hrw-report-2018/

 

[Pakpak]

His party is still in power, infact everything is still the same. He still leads through his puppet PM, nothing's changed except that he's not had the title of PM and he's busy attacking courts, threatening to break up the country.

 

[saeedhk]

Absolute garbage!

 

[Lonewarrior]

what turmoil ?

 

[Pakpak]

Literally nothing's changed.

PMLN government in power in federal? Check.
PMLNL government in power in Punjab? (10 years running now) Check.
PMLN PM in PM house? Check.

Nawaz isn't some next coming of Jinnah that just because he doesn't hold the PM title the country would collapse.

 

[Bewal Express]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1613262/1-ouster-sharif-triggered-turmoil-instability-says-hrw-report-2018/

Its NS trying to cause chaos. Why dont you ask for the Receipts. Btw did you find out information on the Asghar Khan case?

 

[LegendInzi]

Its NS trying to cause chaos. Why dont you ask for the Receipts. Btw did you find out information on the Asghar Khan case?

Interesting that the only connotation for Asghar Khan case in your eyes is that NS received money from agencies. How about the Army Chief and agency heads who were doling out money to a bunch of politicians (not just Nawaz)?

As far as NS goes, I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I believe in civilian supremacy in democratic setup regardless of whether the civil head is NS or IK. If SC decided to go ahead with charging NS in Asghar Khan case for being a 'beneficiary', I will have no problems with that. But alongside him, Gen. Aslam Beg and ISI officials responsible for creating political anarchy should also be brought to trial.

 

[Waseem]

Turmoil?

The only turmoil we have seen is a disgraced & disqualified corrupt person trying to derail the whole system by attacking key institutions in the country to hide his corruption that was exposed in an international leak that no one in Pakistan could influence.

Australia has seen more PMs than Pakistan in last 10 years, their progress wasn't impacted.

In this case, even the government and policies are still same and new PM asks his boss King Nawaz before making every decision so they should really stop talking rubbish.

 

[Bewal Express]

Interesting that the only connotation for Asghar Khan case in your eyes is that NS received money from agencies. How about the Army Chief and agency heads who were doling out money to a bunch of politicians (not just Nawaz)?

As far as NS goes, I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I believe in civilian supremacy in democratic setup regardless of whether the civil head is NS or IK. If SC decided to go ahead with charging NS in Asghar Khan case for being a 'beneficiary', I will have no problems with that. But alongside him, Gen. Aslam Beg and ISI officials responsible for creating political anarchy should also be brought to trial.

So charge them all. But others arent complaining, NS is going around saying its a conspiracy without ever talking about the fact that he is the main beneficiary of the conspiracy. Its like a like a rapist going around complaining about sexual violence not mentioning that fact that he is part of the problem.
You keep saying that you dont have a problem but on the other hand you support a guy and his party that is part of the problem. To say its confused position is an understatement.
As far as the SC charging him, it should have been done a long time ago. And the Nooras would def have a problem, just look at the Panama scandal and all the lies, forgeries and deceit and the Nooras are in uproar.

 

[Syed1]

Didn't Nawaz rule for four years already and absolutely nothing changed why should he be allowed to run for office again. Is being PM his birth right?

 

[LegendInzi]

So charge them all. But others arent complaining, NS is going around saying its a conspiracy without ever talking about the fact that he is the main beneficiary of the conspiracy. Its like a like a rapist going around complaining about sexual violence not mentioning that fact that he is part of the problem.
You keep saying that you dont have a problem but on the other hand you support a guy and his party that is part of the problem. To say its confused position is an understatement.
As far as the SC charging him, it should have been done a long time ago. And the Nooras would def have a problem, just look at the Panama scandal and all the lies, forgeries and deceit and the Nooras are in uproar.

My support is with the civilian government, and as it happens, it belongs to PML-N right now. If IK comes to power in a few months (from the democratic path of elections ofc), you will find me supporting him against conspirators.

 

[Bewal Express]

My support is with the civilian government, and as it happens, it belongs to PML-N right now. If IK comes to power in a few months (from the democratic path of elections ofc), you will find me supporting him against conspirators.

So the PML, a party created by the Millitary has your support. I look forward to future contributions on civilian supremacy.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Yes indeed.

Terrible Iqaama verdict by Baba rehmattay and Co.


Wajid Zia establishment stooge will have to pay this time.



Stop playing with democracy. Enough is enough.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Great to see some democrats standing here at pp for civilian supremacy.

Big Love.

 

[IMMY69]

Yes indeed.

Terrible Iqaama verdict by Baba rehmattay and Co.


Wajid Zia establishment stooge will have to pay this time.



Stop playing with democracy. Enough is enough.

I think I'm getting it now...
Your sarcasm is off the chart...

 

[Bewal Express]

Great to see some democrats standing here at pp for civilian supremacy.

Big Love.

Friend there was a time when you said something it had to be taken seriously but in the end you only had one interest and once it failed you turned against the people who you blamed.

 

[Syed1]

Friend there was a time when you said something it had to be taken seriously but in the end you only had one interest and once it failed you turned against the people who you blamed.

"A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything."

 

[King-Misbah]

Great to see some democrats standing here at pp for civilian supremacy.

Big Love.

I am a democrat but do not support thieves. Thank you

 

[Waseem]

Yes indeed.

Terrible Iqaama verdict by Baba rehmattay and Co.


Wajid Zia establishment stooge will have to pay this time.



Stop playing with democracy. Enough is enough.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In all probability <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NS</a> and Maryam in March/April would be convicted in London apartments case by NAB Court.<br>14 years RI and disqualification.<br>The story of Iqama would no more be relevant</p>— Asad Munir (@asadmunir38) <a href="https://twitter.com/asadmunir38/status/955855884218982401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As Aitzaz Ahsan said, people in Pakistan have no clue what this Iqama is, disqualification is very soft punishment as PM could be jailed for such offences in any other country.

"Iqama is just a visa" is a huge scam aimed at jahil supporters who have no understanding how this words, as if Nawaz Sharif needed UAE Visa Also FZE capital have had millions of dollars worth transactions so only a fool would say it was just a visa

This Iqama will no longer be an issue anyway, supplementary references by NAB have been filed on the basis of further proof and documentary evidence of Maryam being owner.

 

[Bewal Express]

I am a democrat but do not support thieves. Thank you

In PK rule of law is the equivalent of overthrowing democracy. In any self respecting country the rule of law is the central tenet of democracy.

 

[Slog]

Writer of the article clearly doesnt know what he is talking about and would be better served to do his homework next time

For starters - PML-N is still in power and have control of federal government decisions

 

[Slog]

My support is with the civilian government, and as it happens, it belongs to PML-N right now. If IK comes to power in a few months (from the democratic path of elections ofc), you will find me supporting him against conspirators.

Judiciary is part of a functioning democracy

Judiciary has strengthened democracy not weakened it

If you actually understood and stood for democracy you would know but you are little more than a Sharif Darbari so its hard to grasp that concept I guess