Rights and wrongs: Rights commission staff goes unpaid

NA committee discusses challenges faced by NCHR


Maryam Usman April 01, 2016
NA committee discusses challenges faced by NCHR. PHOTO: MARIAM ESSA/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights discussed challenges being faced by the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) in its meeting on Thursday.

The NCHR chairman Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan informed the committee about the challenges the commission is faced with. He mentioned that although a supplementary grant was allocated last month, it has not yet materialised. The matter, he said, is pending with the ministry of finance, Controller General of Accounts and AGPR.

The chairman added that in the proposed budget of 2016-2017, the federal government has allocated an amount of Rs750 million, out of which Rs41 million is for the NCHR despite its extensive mandate.

The chairman further said that no permanent staff is available. Out of 18 staff members, two directors and 11 support staff are temporarily provided by the Ministry of Human Rights.

Salaries have not been paid to any staff, including the chairman and the members from May last year, he added.

Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights Secretary Justice (retd) Raza Khan, who was also present in the meeting, said that the NCHR was totally independent and it was better not to link it with the ministry or disturb its autonomy in any way. He clarified there was no conflict between the ministry and the commission, adding that they were working to resolve issues among themselves. To determine the status of the delayed salaries, he urged the chairman to take it up with the finance minister or the prime minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2016.

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