Barrister Farogh Naseem. PHOTO: FILE
The barrister held a meeting with a seven-member delegation of the European Parliament Committee for relations with South Asia under the leadership of Jean Lambert, according to a press release.
Lambert thanked the law minister for his time and expressed her gratitude for hospitality extended by the Pakistani side.
She informed the minister that the delegation comprised representatives from three different political groups and was in charge of relations with six countries. She said that their job was to engage with governments as well as with the civil societies of these countries.
The law minister told the European Parliament delegation that steps were being taken to ensure protection of witness and judicial protection for effective dispensation of justice.
He said the death penalty was never abolished in Pakistan, adding that there was a moratorium on executions of death penalty.
He said incidents like APS massacre, Zainab case and similar cases of child abuse by dangerous paedophiles resulted in huge public uproar. He said death penalty was awarded in "rarest of the rare cases".
The law minister stated that in drug offences pertaining to women who are only carriers, aspects of leniency are being debated.
During the meeting the issue of extending support to International NGOs was also raised by the delegation members. The law minister responded that the Pakistan government would support all the genuine NGOs working in Pakistan, but “there are certain NGOs that are just wasting money of the West and are not helping in any cause and therefore are not supported”.
He appraised the delegation of the steps the new government had been taking to overhaul the legal system, to help the people of Pakistan.
“Human rights are on our agenda and priority and support from the European Union for a prosperous Pakistan is essential to ensure these rights,” he said.
Barrister Naseem impressed upon the delegation that the EU should support Pakistan in eradicating corruption and its programmes like GSP-plus might be fully supportive of Pakistan in keeping with its culture, religion and settings, “because if the Pakistani society's indicators of education and economic prosperity improve, so will its human rights record”.
According to the law minister, human rights compliance is dependent on tolerant regulation at the international level.
“If the EU is lenient, this will result in Pakistan improving its economy which will alleviate or reduce poverty. This will in turn improve education, knowledge-base and result in a better human eights compliance,” he said.
Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bukhari and Consultant of Law Ministry Raja Naeem were also present during the meeting.
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