HRCP calls for controlling growing rights violations

LAHORE: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, in a letter to the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has called for immediate action on persistent rights violations in the province.

With violence against women, children and transpersons showing no signs of abatement, the HRCP has recommended strengthening the Punjab Commission on the status of women, instituting more effective child protection mechanisms and legislation to raise the age for marriage to 18 years.

The letter said that existing labour laws and regulations related to inspections, safety protocols and wages must be implemented to protect vulnerable workers. Tactics to repress dissent, such as arbitrary raids and detentions and undeclared curbs on press freedom must end. The HRCP appealed that women and other political prisoners must also be released immediately and the state must legislate to restore student unions.