Asia Times: Pakistan's human rights committee labeled cosmetic



	September 01, 1999	atimes.com

India/Pakistan

Pakistan's human rights committee labeled cosmetic
By Muddassir Rizvi

ISLAMABAD - A cabinet committee set up to study the human rights situation in the country has been labelled a cosmetic device intended to lift the sagging international image of the Sharif government.

Indeed, a major objective of the exercise is the betterment of the Pakistan government's image in the international media, perceived as increasingly hostile toward the Sharif regime. ''We have a strong commitment to preserving, promoting and protecting human rights, especially the rights of women and children,'' said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the cabinet meeting during which the committee was formed last weekend.

The realization by the government that all is not well is a welcome sign, but many critics believe that the whole exercise is meant for the consumption of the world community. ''Sharif's claim in the cabinet meeting about his government's commitment to preserving human rights is belied by his policies and actions,'' commented Senator Iqbal Haider, lawyer and a leader of the opposition Pakistan People's Party.

Haider said the defeat in the Senate of a resolution condemning honor killings and violence against women is a clear reflection of the government's insincerity in bettering the human rights situation in Pakistan.

During its 30-month rule, Sharif has gained a reputation for authoritarianism and intolerance of criticism, seen in the closure of 2,500 civil society organizations and arrests of a number of journalists. A crackdown on non-government organizations (NGOs) following their opposition to the official Sharif Bill, meant to give tremendous powers to the prime minister, evoked international condemnation.

In fact, the issue figured at the recent government meetings with the Pakistan Development Forum (previously Aid-to-Pakistan Consortium), which called upon the government to better its human rights record.

The new initiative at the highest government level is being perceived as an effort to create media hype to counter the ''propaganda'' in the international media against the Sharif government's rights record. ''Although the formation of the committee is an encouraging step, situation will only improve once the government admits where it is wrong and then makes meaningful administrative and legislative changes to ensure that the rights of the people, especially women and children, are protected,'' said Shakil Shaikh, a well-known journalist.

Officials at the foreign and law ministries told IPS that the committee has been asked to finalize its recommendations before the session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva begins in the first week of September.

The foreign ministry has proposed formation of a National Coordination Committee on Human Rights (NCCHR) as an apex body to monitor and review the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. ''The NCCHR will frame policy to counter and defend complaints against Pakistan, order enquiry into complaints of human rights violations, and follow up on the implementation of various decisions taken by the government relating to human rights issues,'' reads the document prepared by the foreign ministry.

In addition to the NCCHR, the foreign ministry has also proposed the setting up of an independent National Commission on Human Rights to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge on the pattern of such bodies already established by India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other countries.

Another important suggestion pertains to the creation of a full-fledged ministry to deal with the human rights issues, currently being handled by the ministry of law. The foreign ministry also proposes the formation of a special cell to be headed by a woman and housed by the Federal Ombudsman's Office, to exclusively look into complaints concerning women.

However, critics feel that the steps are cosmetic and that real changes should be made on the ground. ''This approach, designed to improve country's image because there is rising flak being faced overseas, seems to be predicated on the assumption that better public relationing will somehow transform international views and perceptions about Pakistan,'' says an editorial in the Islamabad-based newspaper The News. Pressured by the government, the management of the paper has banned its editor Maleeha Lodhi from writing under her byline.

Officials in the foreign ministry believe that the government will have to take tangible steps with regard to the rights abuses of women, children and minorities.

The ministry also wants the committee to examine the Zina and Hudood ordinances, controversial Islamic laws enacted by the Ziaul Haq regime vehemently opposed by women rights activists.

Anis Jilani, a lawyer and child rights activist, is among those who view the cabinet committee's intentions with suspicion. ''This discussion in the cabinet meeting is definitely a step backwards because instead of acknowledging the bleak state of human rights, we are now almost denying its existence and instead starting to blame the activists who point out the very ills in the society.''

(Inter Press Service)

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