KARACHI:Human rights, labour rights, women rights and civil society activists have called upon the parliamentary committee on human rights and the federal government to appoint the new chairperson and members of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) as the previous body has completed its tenure of four years.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the rights activists pointed out that a national watchdog of human rights like the NCHR was essential for a democratic country as well as for compliance of the international commitments. Pakistan is enjoying Generalized System of Preference (GSP) – Plus facility for duty-free exports to European markets under which Pakistan has to ratify and implement seven core human rights covenants/conventions, besides total 27 international commitments.
Under the National Commission for Human Rights Act, 2012 the NCHR was created, which enjoys powers and mandate of promotion, protection and fulfillment of human rights, as provided in Pakistan’s Constitution and international treaties. During their four-year tenure, the former Chairman Justice (Retd.) Ali Nawaz Chawhan and other NCHR members played an active role in the protection of human rights of the citizens of Pakistan.
As an impartial state body, the NCHR works independently of the government influence and is directly accountable to the Parliament of Pakistan.
The European Union is currently under the process of compilation of its third bi-annual report on compliance of 27 Conventions/Covenants of GSP-Plus to Pakistan, which would be presented in the European Parliament by early 2020. NCRH is the concerned body to present and discuss the report. Delay in the appointment of the new chairperson and members could be counterproductive in the upcoming presentation of compliance report on GSP plus, therefore, we urge the parliamentary committee on Human Rights to take up the matter of appointing on priority to protect the interest of Pakistan at the international level.
It may be noted that the NCHR has quasi-judicial competence and the ability to investigate allegations of human rights abuse. This includes the power to summon and examine witnesses; visit jails, detention centres, or other holding cells; procure public records, court proceedings, and other documents; forward cases to a prosecutor or magistrate. The delay in appointing the NCHR Chairman and members has created a vacuum and this delay seems to be deliberate, which is not acceptable.
According to the Paris Principles Members of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) must be able to fulfil their responsibilities without fear and without interference from the other state bodies and other stakeholders. The struggle for protection and promotion of human rights is long and arduous and we cannot afford any gap in the smooth functioning of National Commission for Human Rights.
The last body of NCHR had prepared and published various reports about violation of human rights in Pakistan, which were well received by the international human rights bodies and institutions. Those who endorsed the statement included Karamat Ali, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER); Ms. Mahnaz Rahman, Aurat Foundation; Mir Zulfiqar Ali, Workers Education and Research Organisation (WERO); Ms. Zehra Khan, Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF); Farhat Parveen, NOW Communities; Liaquat Ali Sahi, Democratic Workers Federation of State Bank of Pakistan; Habibuddin Junaidi, Peoples Labour Bureau; Asad Iqbal Butt, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.