NCHR urged to act as observer in military courts

Islamabad
Pakistan People’s Party leader Farhatullah Babar urged the newly-constituted National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) to act as observer and rapporteur in military courts under Article 9 of the Constitution which permits it to become part of any proceeding.
He was speaking at a roundtable titled ‘Role of an independent National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) in promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan’ organised by Democracy Reporting International (DRI). The event also featured the launch of a briefing paper ‘NCHR: A Key Step for Maintaining GSP+ Status’ by DRI.
The routable was aimed at generating awareness regarding the establishment of NCHR and the institution’s responsibilities besides initiating a debate on the importance of an independent commission.
The panel of speakers urged the government and civil society to work together for the strengthening of the newly formed commission.
National Commission on Human Rights Member Anis Haroon termed establishment of the commission a major step in the promotion and protection of human rights in Pakistan.
She said that making of the commission was a gigantic step but it was only the beginning. She suggested setting up of regional offices as a next step to ensure that benefits of this platform reach every part of the country. Anis said that Commission should take immediate measure to protect human rights defenders. She reminded the commission members of human rights activists who lost their lives in past few years. “If this Commission aims to reach Paris Principles standard and stay responsive to the needs of the people of Pakistan, it needs to be autonomous and should enjoy the political will of the government,” she said.
Considering the wide mandate of NCHR, eminent human rights activist and Secretary Human Rights Commission of Pakistan I A Rehman stressed the need for strong mechanisms for the Commission. He urged civil society to strengthen NCHR by all means and expressed hope that the government would soon release funds required for the basic functioning of the commission.
Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairperson Justice Majda Razvi shared that she has been working as SHRC Chairperson for one and a half years without any pay, perks and staff. She said that SHRC was the first human rights commission formed 2013 but it was established under a weak act passed in haste.
Farhatullah Babar suggested the commission to start its functions with a campaign to raise awareness about the existence of the Commission. He said that human rights defenders are the foot soldiers of NCHR and Commission must take immediate steps to provide them protection.
Acting Head of European Union (EU) Delegation in Islamabad Stefano Gatto said that human rights are the founding principles of EU which is why they are directly linked with the GSP+ Status that has been granted to Pakistan in January 2014. Earlier, DRI Programme Director Tim Bittiger briefed the participants about the briefing paper “NCHR: A Key Step for Maintaining GSP+ Status.”
The newly appointed head of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chowhan said that Pakistan has signed 27 international treaties and seven of them relate to human rights. “We are faithful to the state but we are openly against the elements who are destroying the basic pillars of the state,” he said.