PPO already being enforced in Karachi

Several cases have already been registered under the ordinance

ISLAMABAD: Special Home Secretary Karachi and Additional Secretary Home Department told the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) is already being enforced in Karachi and several cases have already been registered under the controversial ordinance.

The committee expressed serious dismay over the enforcement of the PPO in Sindh, as well as in Punjab, after being briefed on the matter by senior officials from both provinces.

“Despite rejection by all opposition parties and human rights groups, the controversial ordinance has been enforced [in these provinces],” said Senator Khattak.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the PPO permits security forces to commit extra-judicial killings, a grave violation of human rights. “The PPO authorizes extra-judicial killings and makes it easier to take individuals into custody without giving a reason,” he maintained. He said that the committee had serious concerns regarding missing persons in Karachi and Balochistan.

MQM Senator Nasreen Jalil said that 45 MQM workers are currently missing and 20 have been abducted and killed by security forces. “The human rights committee should intervene to save lives of the missing political workers,” Jalil stated.

Earlier, the house condemned the murder attempts on journalists, mentioning Express News anchorperson Raza Rumi and Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir, and asked the government to take immediate steps to provide security to working journalists. The committee deplored that Rumi had to leave the country due to the threat to his life, which was an indictment of the state's failure to provide protection to its citizens.