‘Abide by HR regimes to qualify for GSP plus’

ISLAMABAD:

A delegation of the European Parliament members has raised concern over the issues related to human rights, as Pakistan urged them not to suspend its Generalized Schemes of Preference (GSP) Plus status, saying otherwise extremist forces would be proactive in the country.

A four-member European Union (EU) Parliamentary Delegation for South Asia Relations led by Nicola Prokasini, member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, is visiting the country before the EU's review decision on the fate of GPS Plus status in the month of February.

The delegation comprised European Parliament Vice President and Rapporteur on the GSP Regulation Heidi Hautala, Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Luis Garicano and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Tomas Zdechovsky.

In the light of this reasoning, the delegation’s visit is very significant because the GSP Plus status is crucial for the financial interests of the country.

Pakistan is earning $7 billion from export through GSP Plus every year. On the other hand, the EU linked the extension of status with the improvement of conditions in certain issues related to human rights.

The delegation held separate meetings with Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem and Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan on Thursday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

A senior official in the law ministry told The Express Tribune that the EU delegation mainly raised issues related to the protection of journalists, religious extremism, misuse of blasphemy laws, and forced conversion in some parts of the country.

It is learned that the Pakistan authorities urged the delegation that the country should not be abandoned but their engagement should continue otherwise extremist forces would be proactive in the country. They informed that no one has so far been executed in any blasphemy case.

The AGP, who is also the head of the Treaty Implementation Cell, apprised the delegation of the steps undertaken by the federal and provincial governments for effective enforcement of various international treaties and conventions relating to the welfare of children, labourers, and minorities.

A senior official in the AGP office revealed that the attorney general apprised them of the government's steps to control misuse of blasphemy laws in the country.

He also stated that Pakistan always took coercive steps against elements who misbehaved with minorities.

Matters relating to overall criminal justice reforms as well as other legislation including bills for the protection of journalists and anti-torture bill were also discussed in the meeting.

In a meeting, the AGP also apprised the delegation about various judgments and orders passed by the Supreme Court about protecting the rights and interests of the members of religious minorities and their places of worship.

Meanwhile, Barrister Naseem reassured the delegation of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) firm stance to introduce legal reforms in the country.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the two sides discussed the promotion of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union during the meeting.

Naseem said that Pakistan and the EU have common interests. "We want a balanced relationship," he said.

He also apprised the delegation of the atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The minister while referring to the EU's Disinfo Lab operation launched in 2005, which proved that India had used fake EU letter pads and IDs, said it was a criminal act and demanded that India should be blacklisted for such actions. India should also be blacklisted for fraud from the Financial Action Task Force and the GSP Plus forums, he added.

The issues pertaining to legislation in Pakistan were discussed during the meeting as the law minister briefed the delegation regarding anti-rape law. Issues related to freedom of media and legislation regarding the rights of minorities were also discussed.

Referring to the anti-rape law, the federal minister said it would be tabled in a joint sitting of parliament in the next few days. Under the law, no one would be able to discuss the role of women, he added.

He said that the government had abolished the two-figure test as it was inhumane. “Modern technology will be used to punish the perpetrator under the anti-rape law,” he added.

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He said that under the previous law, the video recorder had to appear in court as evidence, which would not be the case under the new law. He said that the government was completely reforming Pakistan's justice system.

He said that the law ministry also introduced Journalist Protection Bill, adding that the government believed in freedom of the press but no one would be allowed to spread fake news.

Barrister Maleeka Bukhari said that the rights of minorities were very important for the government. She said there was no room for those who persecute minorities, adding that the ruling PTI believed in freedom of the press and no journalist had gone missing during its tenure.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood welcomed the newly proposed legislation for GSP Plus status for post-2023 by the European Commission.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the adviser told the delegation during a dinner hosted in their honour that Pakistan had already acceded to the six new conventions under the proposed new GSP Regulation.

The dinner was also attended by Androulla Kaminara, head of the EU delegation in Islamabad, as well as ambassadors of the EU member states to Pakistan.

Speaking at the occasion the commerce adviser reaffirmed that Pakistan was committed to the full implementation of the UN conventions related to GSP Plus, however, it also wants European partners to be mindful of its challenges.

He appreciated the European member states for their support for Pakistan in securing the GSP Plus status and its continuity in the last three reviews conducted by the European Parliament and hoped that the forthcoming fourth biennial review would also be successful.

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The adviser said that the visit of the delegation could not be timed better as the Fourth Biennial Review of GSP Plus to Pakistan was in process and would be completed in the coming months.

He noted that the EU was one of the largest trading and investment partners of Pakistan.

In FY 2020-21, total bilateral trade with EU-27 was $10.88 billion.

The adviser reiterated that GSP Plus had a positive synergy with the government's social agenda.

It has helped Pakistan in the attainment of a level-playing field in the European markets on one hand and acted as a catalyst to undertake necessary social reforms, on the other.

Kaminara appreciated the whole of the government approach and the institutional mechanism put in place by Pakistan for the implementation of the various commitments under GSP Plus.

Procaccini also appreciated the progress made by Pakistan despite challenges on its commitments pertaining to human rights, environment and climate change, labour rights etc under GSP Plus.

The delegation head reiterated the EU's support for promoting universal values and creating an enabling environment for the implementation of 27 UN Conventions in the beneficiary countries, including Pakistan.

(With input from APP)