‘Human Rights defenders being appointed in HR ministry’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Monday accepted in principle a proposal made by the Ministry of Human Rights to appoint Human Rights Defenders in the ministry.

He took the decision during a presentation made by the Ministry of Human Rights on its working and performance. He welcomed a proposal made by the ministry for including human rights as a subject in educational institutions and directed the ministry to present a detailed working paper for consideration of the cabinet.

He directed Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Adviser to Prime Minister on Human Rights, to strengthen his ministry so that the government could effectively implement its international and constitutional obligations.

Raja said that Islam lays great emphasis on human rights. “Human rights have now become all the more important as it has a bearing on international economic cooperation as well,” he added.

Shaigan Shareef, Secretary Human Rights, said that Pakistan was elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for three years.

The prime minister said that the election of Pakistan to the Human Rights Council is a testimony to international recognition of Pakistan’s commitment to human rights as well as its role in international relations. He said that the Ministry of Human Rights was established during the PPP government in 1995 which speaks volumes about the commitment of the party to the cause of human rights.

Khokhar said that due to the efforts of the ministry, the government had ratified an international treaty on committee against torture as well as international covenant on civil and political rights.It sent a clear message to the international community that Pakistan is serious and committed to upholding human rights, he added.

Raja was also informed that the government had ratified seven international treaties and the ministry was actively working on necessary legislative and administrative measures to implement the obligations that accrue as a result of Pakistan’s obligations. He was also informed that the ministry this year has so far received 1886 cases of human rights violations.

(2012-12-4/thenews)