The tide turns

Human rights violations have been a trait of Pakistani government and state apparatus, but have been generally kept clandestine by one authoritative force or the other. Previously, if one even averred that certain state actors were implicated in violations like forced disappearances in Balochistan, they could soon thereafter fret over the threat of their own forced disappearance. Now, the tone may be changing. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has recently named Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights incompetent in investigating the human rights violations by the state that have continued unchecked and relentless under the commission’s watch. It is refreshing to note that the UN has taken notice of not only the state-sanctioned crimes but also the spineless character of the national watchdog in allowing the breaches to occur.

Articles naming certain Pakistani state actors culpable for illicit activities have been present for some time now, but were quick to be discredited by blind patriots who refused to accept wrongdoing on the part of the military. This was difficult for them to accept since the government’s own human rights committee had nothing to say against the actions. Having a national human rights committee is futile if it cannot work to end violations, which have been so obvious to some, but kept hushed out of fear.

Despite a milestone decision by the Supreme Court on July 28^th to disqualify the sitting ‘crime’ minister of Pakistan — the justice system is abhorrent especially for the most basic yet scathing of crimes such as murder and robbery of fundamental human rights. It is iconic and hopeful to see the UN scrutinise our human rights commission and demand check and balance from the Pakistani government. If the commission can fulfill its purpose, only then can there be a better outlook for citizens, of all faiths and cultures, in the country. Until then, the notion of human rights violations is synonymous with Pakistan’s name and its future looks bleak.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2017.

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