ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Friday split over the point whether intelligence agencies were to be included in a list of law enforcement agencies that should be asked not to violate basic rights of the common man.
Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi was of the view that intelligence agencies of the country, including the ISI and MI, specifically be named in the draft as the committee passed a resolution to appeal to the law enforcing agencies not to violate basic rights of the people. The resolution was passed to mark December 10 as “Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations”.
On the other hand, Fauzia Habib, Dr Attiya Inayatullah, Raheela Baloch and Shakeela Khanam Rashid were of the opinion that intelligence agencies were also part of the law enforcement agencies and they need not to be mentioned specifically in the draft resolution. Chairman Committee Riaz Fatiyana also endorsed their point of view.
However, he expressed concern over missing persons and asked law enforcement agencies to mend their thinking and work in public interest.The committee passed the resolution with the dissenting note of Abbasi, to pay tribute to those who worked for restoration of democracy, for the uplift of human rights, good governance, end to corruption, promotion of education, protection of rights of women, children and minorities, freedom of judiciary and the media and exhibited tolerance in their attitude.
NA body divided over agencies’ role in protecting human rights
