The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Human Rights Forum (HRF) organised a seminar titled ‘Human rights Awareness Year 2011’ in collaboration with Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue on Thursday at the Allama Iqbal Auditorium of the university’s old campus. Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights Chairman Riaz Fatyana was the chief guest whereas Elite Force Additional Inspector General Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema presided over the seminar.
Fatyana said: “Today the senate has passed the National Commission Bill for human rights in Pakistan. “Democracy is the people’s government and human rights should be the priority of the democratic government. The government is working to implement laws to ensure human rights in Pakistan.”
Zulfiqar Cheema said: “It is the responsibility of the state to prevent the violation of human rights. Corruption is the major element which causes violation of human rights in Pakistan and the only way to curb corruption is by instilling the fear of Allah. “Teachers and parents have a great responsibility to make collective efforts to change the corruption culture in Pakistan.” Human rights lawyer Nadia Raja said: “Human rights are outlined in the Holy Quran as the fundamental rights of all human beings and Islam is the only religion which gives human rights to its people.”
Pakistan Commission on Human Rights Executive Director Shafique Choudhry said the society should establish standards of human rights on an individual and collective basis as they are essential for the development of every nation and society. IIU President Dr Mumtaz Ahmad said: “If we realise the responsibility behind the rights given to us by Allah, then no one can take away those rights by force. Western authors have agreed that Islam gave primary importance to human rights.”
He added that the World Liberal Theory of Human Rights stated some rights as absolute while others as negotiable. He regretted that western countries tried to intervene in other countries on the basis of the enforcement of human rights under the umbrella of the United Nations and NATO. Concluding the seminar, Dr. Mumtaz presented university crests to the guests. IIU Schools Director Dr Saeed-ul-Hasan Chishti, Department of Human Rights faculty members and a large number of students attended the seminar.
