HR Ministry asks govt to take up drone attacks at UN

Declaring the US drone attacks inside Pakistani territory to be a sheer violation of human rights, the Ministry of Human Rights has asked the government to take up the issue at all international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday that he had written a letter to the foreign office, asking the government to raise voice at the UN against the drone attacks which he believed to be ‘extra-judicial killings’. He said international law does not allow anybody to kill a man without fair trial.
The committee also endorsed the point of view of the advisor and asked the Ministry of Foreign Office and Human Rights to convey the sentiments of the parliamentarians to the government. The committee asserted that that drone attacks be considered as extra judicial killings, causing human rights violations and same be pursued before all forums including the UN. The committee meeting was held at the Parliament House with Riaz Fatyana in the chair.
With regard to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Centre for Women Islamabad, the committee advised that Ministry of Human Rights secretary should complete PC-I without further delay. The committee advised Ministry of Planning and Development and Ministry of Human Rights to initiate, Human Rights Research Centre Islamabad. The TOR look into human rights violations in media, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, parliamentarians, bureaucracy and will establish literature, curriculum, toolkit, syllabus to hold trainings and increase their capacity building, adding that the PC-I should be finalised within two months.
With regard to progress on Inter Departmental Committee (IDC) consisting of Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law established since 2009, the committee expressed concern that tangible result were not yet made. The committee condemned road accident of students of Millat Grammer School, Faisalabad on Motorway which killed 34 and demanded punishments for culprits and trauma counseling of the students and their families.
The committee decided to call PIA managing director and commercial section incharge and Civil Aviation director general for violation and discrimination of consumer rights to passengers by mismanagement, delay in flights and use of planes that are out of order.