Protest: NCHD employees petition against court decision
National Commission for Human Development say closure of the commission will bar the country from valuable aid.
ISLAMABAD:
Following’s Wednesday’s protest demonstration, employees of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) have challenged the government decision to wind up the commission in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Previously the demonstration, which had led to baton charging and arrests was made over the closure of operations of the commission.
Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, on behalf of NCHD employees, has filed the constitutional petition under Article 184(3) for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
It has been stated in the petition that NCHD is a nationwide network of 101 human develop support units, which is involved in providing social services to the remotest areas of country through its more than 16,000 employees and if the commission is wound up, all the good work will come to an abrupt end.
More than 16,000 families will be left unemployed, not to speak of the 7,000 schools and around 500,000 students who have no access to education or health could be forced to abandon education and become vulnerable to be exploited.
It has been submitted by Barrister Syed Ali Zafar that the Commission is fulfilling the basic and core obligations of the Government by providing education and health services to those citizens who are deprived of even the basic amenities of life. It is stated in the petition that in today’s age of human rights, there is a positive duty upon facilities and to give the opportunity of human development to its citizens.
It has further been submitted that the 18th Amendment and devolution do not mean that the federal government is absolved from its obligation to provide the citizens of Pakistan these fundamental rights and since the existence of the commission and their provision of services is part of the basic state duty, the court must protect the existence of the commission.
Meanwhile, the board members of NCHD, Pakistan Human Development Fund - UK and USA and American Human Development Fund held a joint conference call on Wednesday, on matters regarding abolition of NCHD by June 30, as per the Council of Common Interest decision on June 1, this year.
The members highlighting that if NCHD is to be closed down, no Pakistani expatriate will donate their money to any other organisation. NCHD Director General, Zulfiqar Ahmad has appealed to Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, to support the cause of NCHD and its employees.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2011.
Following’s Wednesday’s protest demonstration, employees of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) have challenged the government decision to wind up the commission in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Previously the demonstration, which had led to baton charging and arrests was made over the closure of operations of the commission.
Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, on behalf of NCHD employees, has filed the constitutional petition under Article 184(3) for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
It has been stated in the petition that NCHD is a nationwide network of 101 human develop support units, which is involved in providing social services to the remotest areas of country through its more than 16,000 employees and if the commission is wound up, all the good work will come to an abrupt end.
More than 16,000 families will be left unemployed, not to speak of the 7,000 schools and around 500,000 students who have no access to education or health could be forced to abandon education and become vulnerable to be exploited.
It has been submitted by Barrister Syed Ali Zafar that the Commission is fulfilling the basic and core obligations of the Government by providing education and health services to those citizens who are deprived of even the basic amenities of life. It is stated in the petition that in today’s age of human rights, there is a positive duty upon facilities and to give the opportunity of human development to its citizens.
It has further been submitted that the 18th Amendment and devolution do not mean that the federal government is absolved from its obligation to provide the citizens of Pakistan these fundamental rights and since the existence of the commission and their provision of services is part of the basic state duty, the court must protect the existence of the commission.
Meanwhile, the board members of NCHD, Pakistan Human Development Fund - UK and USA and American Human Development Fund held a joint conference call on Wednesday, on matters regarding abolition of NCHD by June 30, as per the Council of Common Interest decision on June 1, this year.
The members highlighting that if NCHD is to be closed down, no Pakistani expatriate will donate their money to any other organisation. NCHD Director General, Zulfiqar Ahmad has appealed to Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, to support the cause of NCHD and its employees.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2011.