Holding up civil liberties: K-P Human Rights Directorate sees 400 cases in 2015

More transgressions reported as public becomes aware about services offered

PESHAWAR: The K-P Human Rights Directorate (HRD) has seen applications double in the past year, said Noor Zaman Khattak, the director of the department. “Compared to the previous years, we are seeing an increase because we have held more awareness sessions,” he said.

Khattak added the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government needed to invest more in awareness sessions and seminars so more and more people learn about the directorate and its purpose. Khattak said this while talking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

He said the directorate had been struggling to create awareness as people did not know about its existence. “[Initially] we would receive a few complaints from the public, some of which would be sent by the Chief Minister Complaint Cell,” he said. Most complaints included minor domestic disputes, Khattak said.

“We resolve things by calling the parties involved and holding a jirga (arbitration) at the directorate. In a majority of the cases, the issues are resolved in a couple of case hearings.” Khattak shared complainants do not have pay and only a handful of lawyers offered to work pro bono.

“Serious issues are directed to the relevant departments. Some of them even require the federal government to get involved,” he said. “There are certain issues which we are unable to entertain and those issues are forwarded to police or other law-enforcing departments,” Khattak told The Express Tribune.

Increase in cases

According to Khattak, the total number of cases in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 was around 400. This increased exponentially in 2015 which saw over 400 cases.

At least 80 cases have been registered with the directorate in 2016. “Since we deliver and resolve issues in the shortest possible time free of cost, people do not approach courts and directly file an application to the HRD,” said Khattak, terming it the reason why applicants were seeking HRD intervention.

Earlier, some HRD officials complained of shortage of funds for holding awareness sessions and alleged the finance department was creating hurdles in releasing funds. The total budget allocated for the directorate was Rs1.57 million annually, of which Rs1.24 million goes into salaries, leaving Rs0.33 million for operational expenses.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2016.