‘Special human rights courts to be established soon’

National Assembly’s Chairman Standing Committee on Human Rights Babar Nawaz Khan on Monday said that establishment of special courts to hear human rights cases is a need of the hour.

Addressing a meeting of the committee at the Civil Secretariat, Nawaz said that the government would take every possible step against the culprits involved in smuggling of human organs. He said that action had been taken against the NGOs working to promote negative image of Pakistan at the international level. He said that the network of provincial departments of human rights in Punjab would be expanded.

Nawaz said that the federal government would enhance collaboration with provincial departments for awareness campaign and protection of human rights. He further said that the federal government would launch a crackdown on smugglers of human organs soon.

The chairman said that the new legislation on human rights would be presented in the National Assembly in the next session.

He said that the government should adopt a comprehensive policy regarding women and juveniles in all prisons of the country. He said that the situation of human rights in Punjab, especially in prisons was better than other provinces.

Human Rights Federal Secretary Nadeem Ashraf said that the federal government, with the collaboration of all provinces, has devised a national action plan on protection of human rights across the country. The work on establishing special courts is under process, he added. The regional directorate of Federal Human Rights Department is working to implement and monitor the international treaties on human rights, he said.

Human Rights Provincial Secretary Asim Iqbal said that a provincial task force on human rights would be established soon to help implementing the federal recommendations at the gross-roots level.

Regional Director Lubna Masood briefed the committee on the performance of regional office in Punjab. Members of the committee inquired about the ratio of conviction against the violation of human rights. Committee also directed the authorities concerned to present the conviction report within a week.