Military courts: Babar asks HRCP to become observer

ISLAMABAD: Senator Farhatullah Babar suggested the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to become observer in the military courts, established after 21s Amendment, to witness the proceedings. “By this way we can know about replies of defence and the prosecution,” he said.  Senator Babar was speaking after HRCP Chairman Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan briefed lawmakers at a parliamentary panel. The central leader of the PPP also asked the HRCP to keep an eye on the officials of armed forces regarding human rights violation. But the HRCP chief linked all such monitoring specific to the miniscule rogue elements and not the sacred institution of the Pakistan Army. Talking to The Express Tribune after the meeting, Justice (Retd) Chohan said that it would not be a rational approach to scrutinise the army, “but yes the commission will hound the rogue elements anywhere.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.