National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Senate functional committee on Human
Rights on Tuesday approved report of the body on `the Protection
Against Harassment at workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The matter was referred by the House on July 18 for
consideration, finalization and adoption of the report.
The committee chaired by Senator Nasreen Jalil also directed
to call all the stakeholders including civil society, Ulema, Council
of Islamic Idealogy, Law Reforms Committee, National Commission for
Human Rights and relevant ministry officials for thorough
consideration of the Blasphemy law.
Members opined that it is quite a sensitive issue and they
just want to propose reforms to check its misuse. “Our objective is
that any innocent person should not be accused under this law”.
The committee lauded the role of National Commission for Human
Rights (NCHR) for preparing a detailed report on it.
Senator Kabir Ahmed Muhammad Shahi endorsed the recommendation
of the commission regarding no officer below the rank of a
Superintendent of Police shall investigate any complain registered
under the law.
Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif said there is much confusion
and misunderstanding on the law. He opined that there is a wide
difference between violation of the law by anyone due to his/her
ignorance or with the intentions of disrespect.
Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Nadeem Asharf stated that
wrong interpretation of the law created an atmosphere of fear in the
society and lawyers are reluctant to take case related to it.
No prosecutor is available to proceed the law on the other
hand lawyers are also not willing to appear as defence lawyers
to plead cases of accused.
The chairperson asked that they should suggest precautionary
measures to prevent involvement of any innocent person.
The body took notice of no representation from FC and Rangers
in the committee to respond on the agenda items and in protest five
senators left the proceedings.
Senator Farhat Ullah Baber also raised the issue of Human
Rights Commission South Asia report quoted by the Rangers
representative in the last meeting.
The member said it is only a web based
organization and no virtual founding on ground. “I checked the
website of this commission and talked to senior journalist Rahim
Ullah Yousaf Zai declared as his member on it but he refuse to be
its part”.
He asked the chairperson to write letter to Ministry of
Information Technology and National Commission for Human Rights to
probe the matter.
The committee members also raised objection on few officials
of security agencies to give briefing on under trail cases to media.
They mentioned the name of Senior Superintendent of Police Rao
Anwar who frequently appear in various talk shows and comment on the
under trail case.
The committee directed to send a letter to Ministry of
Interior for taking notice of the issue as according to law
government servants are not allowed to speak or comment on any
official matter without the approval of seniors.
Secretary Ministry of Human Rights remarked that the
investigating authority is not suppose to give any statement on
under trail cases and it is jurisdiction of Pakistan Electronic
Media Regulatory Authority to declare the no go areas in particular
matters.
The committee also directed the concerned authorities to brief
on the cases followed by Martyred President Quetta Bar Association
Bilal Anwar Kasi who was victim of target killing few days back.
The committee members including Senators Mufti Abdul Sattar,
Farhat Ullah Baber, Mir Kabir Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, Nisar Muhammad,
Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Sitara Ayaz, Samina Abid and Sehar Kamran,
Chairperson National Commission for Human Rights, Justice (Retd) Ali
Nawaz Chowhan, representatives of Balochistan home department and
officials of ministry of Human Rights attended the meeting.