HRCP demands urgent focus on real issues

HRCP expresses concern over deterioration in the country’s state of affairs.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over deterioration in the country’s state of affairs and urged the government to return to the task of governance and address problems of the people.

A statement issued after the conclusion of the HRCP Council quoted its chairperson Dr Mehdi Hasan as saying: “The HRCP expresses serious concern at the aggravation of the crisis of the state, caused primarily by a confrontation between institutions driven by insecurity or by self-righteousness. The entire government seems to have suffered a paralysis at a time when it faces the challenge of rehabilitating millions of people affected by floods, of saving the economy from collapse, and of guaranteeing the citizens security of life and liberty.

The tasks that demand immediate attention include the revival of the local government system, the lack of which contributed to the increased loss of life and property in floods, evaluation of the effect the measures aimed at ending a sense of alienation in Balochistan have had so far, addressing the needs of the internally-displaced persons and the tribal people, efforts to curb extremism and intolerance and protection of religious minorities.

HRCP, the statement said, is also alarmed at the continuing political violence in Karachi, the complete inability of the state to hold anyone responsible for repeated waves of targeted killings in the city, and the increasing difficulty in holding any election in Karachi.

Expressing serious concern at the continuing militarisation of society and glut of weapons in the country, HRCP called for across the board de-weaponisation. It also demands that efforts to counter the extremist militancy in the country must desist from outsourcing law and order responsibilities to local communities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2010.