Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairperson Justice (r) Majida Rizvi has said that the number of human rights violations in Pakistan has increased to a great deal despite the discourse related to human rights taking deep roots in the socio-political arena of the country

She was addressing a dialogue ‘Justice For All’ here on Friday. During the event, the fourth annual report 2017-18 was also launched.

She thanked the Sindh government for enhancing the grant to the commission, enabling them to work more proactively. She also thanked women MPAs for being very cooperative and receptive to needs and desires to expand commission’s work. She hoped that positive partnerships with all would continue in the years to come.

In his address, Sindh Special Assistant on Human Rights Dr Khatumal Jeevan said that Sindh had already established human rights commissions for women and children to protect their rights. “Our leadership has always supported and encouraged us to protect people’s interests and safeguard their rights,” he maintained.

Dr Jeevan said that he would forward the recommendations of experts to the Sindh Assembly for legislation. “The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is trying its level best to provide maximum relief to poor masses and every segment of the society,” he said. He extended his full support and cooperation to the commission at every level to further achieve the targets for the benefit for the poor masses of the province. “We should all come forward to further strengthen the commission and play our due role collectively.”

He added, “In order to respond to the rights violations and to ensure the availability of all fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution, the Sindh legislature has responded quite proactively and the establishment of commissions under Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2011 was one of the commendable responses to HR violations in the province. We look forward to conclude a way forward to effective response mechanism to deal with rights violations in Sindh. We have also completed review of pro-women laws in collaboration with other commissions/ institutions. The commission has intervened in the environment degradation and water shortage in Sindh. Sindh EPA Act-2014 is being reviewed by the commission so that fundamental right of clean environment may also be assured.”

Sindh Ombudsman Sindh Asad Ashraf Malik while describing the working of Ombudsman Office said that with the collaboration of UNICEF, Children Complaint Cell had been established at the Ombudsman Office to protect children’s rights. He lauded the services of Majida Rizvi and Sindh Human Rights Commission and extended his support and cooperation to both.

During the event, Justice (r) Shaiq Usmani presented an overview of human rights situation. Anees Haroon spoke about challenges to human rights institutions, Karamat Ali of PILER called for strengthening human rights institutions in the light of recommendations of experts and Maliha Zia Lari described the role of legislature in combating human right violations.

Sindh Human Rights Department Secretary Riaz Hussain Soomro apprised the audience of working and progress of the department. He said that the department with the support of other departments and commissions was getting feedback to overcome the complaints of human rights, adding that toll-free helpline had been established to register human rights complaints and resolve them accordingly.

Women MPAs Kalsoom Chandio, Heer Soho, Ex-minister Jameel Yousuf, Riaz Soomro, Aslam Shaikh, Sheema Kirmani, Naseer Jamali, Farhat Parveen, Zulfiqar Shah, Syed Hassan Shah, Rubina Brohi, Adnan Khaskheli and a large numbers of civil society representatives were also in attended.

Published in Daily Times, November 17^th 2018.