The participants of a seminar on “Protection and Rights of Citizens: Political Consensus” on Tuesday emphasised upon the political parties to focus on making serious efforts to implement national action plan, take stern actions to curb terrorism and extremism and introduce measures to address outstanding human rights issues. The seminar was organised by Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
Executive Director of CSJ Peter Jacob, former MNA Bushra Gohar (NDM), Sardar Hussain Babak (ANP), Dr. Khadim Husain, Arshad Aziz Malik, Syed Ayub Shah Advocate (PPP), Shahid Mehmood, Augustin Jacob Social, Human Rights Activist and Suneel Malik were among the speakers, while Naina Samson moderated the seminar.
At this juncture, CSJ’s report titled “Promises to Keep & Miles to Go” based on the analysis of pledges, actions, and performance regarding minorities rights made by political parties was launched which the political parties in the government and opposition largely failed to implement their pledges fully in the last three parliamentary tenures. The study found that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fulfilled none out of five promises made in election manifesto 2018, though it made partial progress on two promises.
Peter Jacob said that CSJ shares the grief of families and the entire nation affected by the attack on police lines Peshawar a week ago. The civil society of Pakistan welcomes the meeting of the Apex committee and the all-parties conference, being convened in Islamabad, and supports the national resolve against extremism and militancy. He said that civil society strongly believes that the success against extremism will hugely depend on changes in the policy paradigm aimed at equality of rights and removing discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, particularly the impunity available to preachers of hate and intolerance.
He demanded that upcoming census has to ensure the maximum inclusion of Pakistan’s diversity and the political process should enable substantial changes in the legal framework including the constitution of Pakistan to inculcate the standards of justice and equality envisioned in the speech of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on 11 August 1947. Bushra Gohar said that the political parties have failed to address human rights abuses, and they compromised on their mandates and political will due to the pressure exerted by religious groups, which results in making them use religion in their narrative and policy actions for political point scoring.
She added that textbooks of different subjects including English and Urdu carry the religious content which leads to dividing citizens on religious and sectarian lines and developing a typical worldview amongst students, which should be contained to implement Article 22(1) of the constitution of Pakistan. Sardar Hussain Babak said that there are curbs on freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion in Pakistan. The powerful state institutions tend to challenge the supremacy of the constitution and parliament, which makes the democratic institutions weak and marginalised. He added that the country is in the grip of religious intolerance and extremism sponsored by the state, it is time for the state authorities to reject the ideals that promote hatred and exclusion.
Arshad Aziz Malik said that the constitution of Pakistan guaranteed the protection of life and property of every citizen, however, state institutions have failed to realise their responsibility to promote, protect and fulfil human rights.
