Parallel Event on
Human Rights in Pakistan: Perspectives from Oppressed Regions
14 March 2017
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Room: XXVII, Palais de Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Moderator/Chair: Mr. Baseer Naweed, Senior Researcher, Asian Legal Resource Centre
Speakers in the Panel:
1. Mr. Sharan Srinivas, Director, Research and Advocacy, Right Livelihood Award Foundation
2. Ms. Rubina Greenwood, (Chairperson), World Sindhi Congress
3. Mr. Marino Busdachin (General Secretary), UNPO
4. Mr. Sardar Shaukat Kashmiri, (Chairperson), UKPNP)
5. Mr. Lakhumal Lohano,, (President), Baloch-Sindhi International Forum
6. Mr. Hammal Haider Baloch, (Designation), Baloch National Movement, BNM
RSVP: Please contact Mr. Baseer Naweed, Senior Researcher, Asian Legal Resource Centre, Email: baseer.naweed@ahrc.asia.
The Fundamental human rights form the bedrock of advanced democracies and are a product of the social contract of a written constitution. Despite being a signatory to several international conventions and treaties and having plethora of sin quo non-fundamental right, the human rights situation in Pakistan is becoming dire with every passing day nearly all human rights are violated in Pakistan with impunity.
Due to the extreme crisis of administration of justice in Pakistan, enjoying civil and political rights is a distant dream. Pakistan’s record in the area of Human Rights over the past seven decades, has suffered immensely under the dictatorial regimes whence the human rights were held in abeyance.
Extra judicial killings, custodial torture, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests are all outcomes of a dysfunctional judicial system. The incessant rise in trends of the above mentioned rights abuse at the hands of the state speaks volumes about the state human rights in the country. Ostracized by the state itself the vulnerable citizens are unable to survive in the country.
Human rights defenders, bloggers and social activists have traditionally been considered an irritant to state policies in Pakistan, and are often targeted by the state as well as non-state actors. Fundamentalist groups working under the direct tutelage of the state often use the Damocles sword of blasphemy allegation against all critics of state policies.
Although Balochistan has always been the Achilles heels for the establishment, it is now using the tactic of enforced disappearance against bloggers and social media activists who dare speak against the state atrocities. Supporting the Baloch cause has become a de facto crime. The discrimination based on gender and religion is one of the basic features of Pakistan. Many women are killed and many more are subjected to various types of violence either due to marriage related issues such as, forced marriages, honour killings and dowry related killings and violence.
Thus, civil rights exist in Pakistan only in name. The Government does not honour Article 2 of the ICCPR where it is obligated to provide for legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures to ensure that the people enjoy the rights enshrined in the ICCPR and other UN Conventions. The absence of efficient and proper criminal justice system has mired the state of rule of law and is the greatest hurdle in the implementation of provisions of ICCPR.
