Conspiracies being hatched against NCHR: Chowhan

Commission chief calls NIHR ‘illegally formed paper body’

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) has claimed that conspiracies are being hatched against the body by ‘some elements in the human rights ministry’.

The NCHR has ordered an investigation into the setting up of a parallel human rights body to ‘undermine the commission’.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the National Institute of Human Rights (NIHR) and the action plan on February 13.

However, “PM Nawaz was not correctly or fully apprised for obtaining his permission on the action plan or creation of the new rights body,” Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, who heads the NCHR, claimed during an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune.

During a news conference on Thursday, the newly appointed human rights minister, Zahid Hamid, and PM’s Special Assistant on Human Rights Zafarullah Khan unveiled the 16-point action plan for protecting and promoting human rights in the country.



The NCHR considers this a violation of law and international practice. The body has also advised the premier to halt this ‘illegal’ process.

It is the responsibility of the NCHR to develop ‘a national plan of action for the promotion and protection of human rights’ and this function could not be usurped by the executive, the commission said while citing the relevant law.

“The NIHR is a paper body which has been established in violation of the country’s law and the United Nation’s Paris Principles,” said Chowhan. He said the commission was braving administrative and financial challenges. “We are fighting against all odds.”

The NCHR chairman said Rs100 million had been approved for the body “but so far we could not get this pledged money.”

Performance of NCHR

“Currently, I’m directly handling all cases,” said Chowhan. “I’m not sending these cases to the members, as they don’t have any staff or finances.”

He promised that the human rights body would not create problems for the government. “But, according to our mandate, we shall help identify rouge elements.”

In response to a question, he said the commission had not compromised or surrendered any of its powers.

Asked why the government and its institutions were shying away from the commission, he said: “Because we are an independent body.”

Chowhan said the human rights ministry could refer only 17 cases to the NCHR. The commission took suo motu notice on the death of children in Tharparkar and sought a report from Sindh.



“We also want to visit Balochistan to assess the human rights situation, but how can one go without any funds?” he said. “The control of the purse has been taken away from us. But we are strong and we are passionate about our work.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2016.