Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), FORUM-ASIA member, issued a press release on 14 April condemning the "ignominious capitulation" to back the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for Malakand Division, northwest of the country. The division will have another system of administration for justice under this regulation.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP),
FORUM-ASIA member, issued a press release on 14 April condemning the
"ignominious
capitulation" to back the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for Malakand Division,
northwest of the country. The division will have another system of
administration for justice under this regulation.
The way the National Assembly resolved to back
the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for Malakand Division on Monday does no credit to
the House, and the day will be remembered for the state's humiliating
submission to blind force, a statement by HRCP said on Tuesday.
The commission said, "The reservations of the
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation for
the Malakand Division apart, the manner the resolution relating to the subject
was adopted in the National Assembly cannot bring any credit to the House".
"Making all allowances for the circumstances, in which
a desperate government was seeking survival through surrender to militancy, no
one except a lone member of the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League), noted journalist Ayaz Amir, had the
courage to speak honestly and directly about the situation, while members of
the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) at least maintained consistency in resisting bigotry. What is amazing
is that no reference was made to the impact of the measure on women, children,
minorities and the prospects for rule of law in the embattled Malakand
Division. Even if the party chief whip had ruled out the possibility of
criticising the measure, expressing concern over the threat to fundamental
rights should not have been an utterly hazardous undertaking. What use is increased
representation of women in parliament if they cannot squeak even in matters of
life and death to them? Whatever may happen to the repeatedly abandoned people
of Pakistan, 13th of April 2009 will only be remembered as a day of ignominious
capitulation to brute force."
Asma Jahangir
Chairperson
