Pak Human Rights Minister called on Chair of APL (Association of Pakistani Lawyers(UK)

Pr) Mumtaz Alam Gillani MNA, Federal Minister for Human Rights (Pakistan) called on Chair of ‘APL (Association of Pakistani Lawyers) at a Lunch on Monday 18 October 2010 at 12.00 pm At APL headquarters at 149 Drake Street, Rochdale, OL11 1EF. Chair & Secretary of Association of Pakistani Lawyers welcomed the Minister and briefed him about the relevant issues confronted by overseas Pakistanis. Ehsan Ullah Batth, Consul General of Pakistan at Manchester briefed the minister about the Manchester community and the actions on Pakistani community. Barrister Amjad Malik addressed the gathering, and highlighted the human right issues and concerns and sought Minister’s intervention and presented a 21 page(s) report suggesting improvements and actions required.

The report was on the following topics: Representations  on passport difficulties, The role of Land Mafia and Qabza groups in Commercial Court and at High Court Levels , Representations Regarding Overseas Pakistanis (OP), Extra Judicial Killings, Pakistan: The Drone attacks and also Terrorist activities, The Accountability Process explained, The plight of missing persons namely Dr Afia Siddiqui and the Pakistani Student Cases, Pakistani Student Cases discussed further, judiciary and Relevant Issues.

Amjad Malik said in his inaugural welcoming address that:

“Ministry of human rights was working as a sub group of law ministry in the past and was confined to address the anxiety of foreign press in respect of ethnic and religious minorities. Provision of human rights is no longer confined to minorities alone. Media expansion, pro active judiciary and lawyers movement has awakened the people to an extent that within hours an episode of alleged ‘breach of human right’ is exposed to millions here and abroad and stringent action is required forthwith. The Gojra riots, Sialkot killing incidents, the footage of a woman being whipped in Swat and killings as a result of suicide attacks is a fine example of such expansion. MOHR in this area needs to suggest proposals to improve the overall working of areas/departments which are mainly service oriented institutions such as police, prison, and other Government departments and identify for the introduction of relevant human rights provisions, ways of gaining institutional strength to meet the basic norms of human rights as is in the Constitution 1973 (chapter1), or intl. Law, and or rules of the natural justice, & European Convention on Human Rights 1950. MOHR must highlight and aid the Government in Its drive to discourage, the Dowry culture, domestic violence, forced marriages, human trafficking, unlawful confinement at police stations, torture, abuse of process, unfair trials, extra judicial killings, ultra constitutional disappearances & missing people, and must assist the Government to promote free legal aid to defendants without a lawyer, and will advise on ways to tackle these issues at provincial, national and international levels.  Currently human rights is only merged with ethnic minority ministry which needs to be separated as the media and robust judicial activism has put the pressure on public office holders to bring in a new policy frame work, react quickly and address concerns within a limited time frame and a advisor on human rights may assist the team to achieve that desired target(s) of good governance and avoid abuse of process, fair trial and unrest”.

Rt. Hon. Mumtaz Alam Gillani MNA, Federal Minister for Human Rights (Pakistan  said in his response that:

Rt. Hon. Mumtaz Alam Gillani MNA, Federal Minister for Human Rights (Pakistan) thanked the APL for hosting an event and assured him of a response on their recommendations within a month. He highlighted that Pakistan Govt is not facing up the challenge to clear misconception about human right abuses in Pakistan but situation and issues are quite different of third world to west. He said Human rights ministry was a dream of Be Nazir Bhuttoo which came into being in November 2009.He said that in Pakistan politicians were never allowed to function properly and the noble profession is marred with hurdles. He promised to promote Pakistani lawyers abroad and use their services for national cause. He took credit of Pakistan’s civil Govt’s initiative to sign the international covenant of Prohibition of torture. He appreciated the overseas Pakistanis contribution during flood times and overall through remittances.

Ehsan Ullah Batth, Consul General of Pakistan at Manchester , CWA Manchester Amir Nisar Chaudhary and Commercial counsellor Hamid Ali attended and welcomed the Minister in Manchester. Ch Shahid Ahmad, Safder Malik, Raja Sher Akbar, Zafar Rathore, Farooq Ahmed, Ch Ashraf, Allama Azeem Gee, Haroon Shah, Majid Majeed, attended the event. Following members of APL attended the event: Barrister Amjad Malik Chair APL, Barrister Saleem Shah Vice Chair APL, Solicitor Nadeem Malik, Mohammed Rafiq, Assistant Sec APL, Asia Khannum Advocate, Idrees Mohammed, Exec Member , Barrister Ahmed Faraz Khan, Exec Member , Barrister Kashif Iqbal, Exec Member , Ikram Ul Haq Member, Rizwan Zaffar  Member.

Monday, 18 October 2010