‘Reforms necessary to end human rights violations’

‘Discriminatory policies promoting prejudices against minority groups’.

FAISALABAD:

“The government must reform policies, administrative and legal frameworks to make the justice system equitable, accessible and responsive,” speakers at a seminar, Legal and Policy Change for Enforcement of Mechanism of Human Rights organised by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) here on Tuesday said.

Advocate Syed Mujahid Hussain Gilani said Pakistan’s judicial system was the second most corrupt institution in the country according to a report by the Transparency International.

He said judges and lawyers were misusing their positions by appointing their relatives and friends to key posts. “The deserving are left far behind as a result of the injustice and nepotism in our administrative system,” he said.



“Access to justice will only be possible if policy makers themselves abide by the policies.”

Jurist Musaddaq Hussain said there was widespread disharmony in the country. This, he said, was resulting in hatred, discrimination, intolerance, violence and terrorism.

“It is imperative to have effective policies and a competent leadership to root out class conflict, feudalism and extremism,” he added.

Activist George Clement said, “There is no concept of citizen and a nation in the Objectives Resolution. Its presence in the preamble of the Constitution of Pakistan is the main cause behind economic, social and political deprivation of religious minorities.”

He said discriminatory policies promoted prejudices against minority groups. “Such provisions in the constitution and such policies must be amended in consultation with scholars of minority groups,”

AWAM Director Naseem Anthony said the government should pledge to respect, promote and protect human rights, and treat all its citizens equitably.

“Human rights violations in the country will not end until the government itself stops violating human rights,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2013.