A press conference was held on Thursday by heads of various human rights organisations over mergence of the Federal Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) with the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) by the government.
This has left grave concerns among the representatives of the two ministries due to conflicting mandates. Human Rights will be consigned to a unit in the MoLJ which will have an adverse impact on the MoHR and on the state of human rights in Pakistan.
“We demand the immediate restoration of the Ministry of Human Rights as a separate, independent federal ministry, along with the appointment of a federal minister, who is recognised and respected for his/her work, track record and views on human rights,” said MoHR.
The MoLJ’s mandate includes defending the existing laws, and representing the State in court cases pertaining to human rights violations by the State, while the MoHR is expected to redress the grievances of victims and to protect and safeguard their rights and interests. As a unit of the MoLJ it will not be able to perform these functions independently.
The Constitution of Pakistan (1973) lays down the Principles of Policy and Fundamental Human Rights, protected and promoted through several Articles. In addition, Pakistan, as a Member State of the United Nations, accepts the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and is also a State Party to several Human Rights Conventions. After the establishment of the MoHR, Pakistan secured membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN/HRC). The merger will cause Pakistan’s image to suffer.
Consequently, both the National Assembly and Senate Standing Committees on Human Rights will stand dissolved. This would result in the issue of human rights no longer being closely watched and monitored by the Parliament, which would further undermine the importance of human rights and their violations in Pakistan.
After devolution the subject of Women’s Development was retained as a federal unit in the MoHR. After the merger, women’s issues will lose priority and focus; as will the rights of non-Muslim citizens, children and youth.
The important function of the MoHR to harmonise national laws, regulations and practices with Pakistan’s international human rights covenants and agreements will be halted or adversely affected.