NCHR voices concern over PTI’s capital lockdown plan

Islamabad

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has expressed concern about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) threat to ‘lock down’ Islamabad on November 2.

The NCHR is a statutory body promoting and protecting human rights in the country. “The closing down of Islamabad is a matter, which relates to life and liberty, a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 9 of the Constitution and further adopted by NCHR Act 2012 while defining the term human rights. Holding a rally with the purpose of closing down capital city and disrupting movement, business, and day-to-day working of the citizens infringes on public fundamental rights,” NCHR chairman Justice (r) Ali Nawaz Chohan said on Thursday.

Justice (r) Ali Nawaz said there was also a talk of expected skirmishes, which might even lead to killing of people. “The citizens are fearful that their children will not be able go to school, patients to the hospitals, civil servants to their offices, consumers to the markets, and shopkeepers and entrepreneurs to their places of business on November 2,” he said.

The NCHR chairman said staging of rallies obstructed traffic and movements and that the shutdown would set a wrong and negative precedent in a country governed by the Constitution.

He said in all civilised countries, secure areas were defined for exercising the rights to protest. “This area should be defined and those protesting may consider avoiding shutdown and the possible and expected bloodshed,” he said. Justice (r) Ali Nawaz said he thought it was a duty to appeal to all concerned to avoid shutting down of Islamabad and to pursue the constitutional remedies.