Mirpur. The International
Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in its February 2008 statement for the
Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan (2nd Session 5-16 May 2008), to
be conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), has
demanded that the new federal coalition government of PPP, PML-N, ANP,
MMA, Independent MNAs, FATA MNAs and other democratic MNAs and
Senators must take the following 8 actions to abolish the ruling
corrupt tyranny of Pakistan:
(1) "Repeal the amendments to the Constitution and laws passed during
State of Emergency, including post-Emergency laws reaffirming or
continuing Emergency measures.
(2) "Release all judges and lawyers remaining in detention, reinstate
the justices and judges dismissed during the State of Emergency, and
restore the licenses of all lawyers suspended or disbarred during the
State of Emergency.
(3) "Restore all rights under the Constitution, withdraw charges
arising from peaceful protest and lift restrictions on the media.
(4) "Withdraw any charges made against peaceful protesters under the
Anti-Terrorism Act, restrict the use of special counter-terrorism
legal procedures to legitimate terrorism suspects only and refrain
from the use of counter-terrorism measures against the peaceful
political opposition in order to suppress protests or dissenting
opinions."
The Geneva, Switzerland-based ICJ also calls on the UNHRC to:
1. "Encourage Pakistan to accede to the [UN] International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, [UN] Convention Against Torture and the
[UN] International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance.
2. "Request its Special Rapporteurs on the independence of judges and
lawyers, arbitrary detention, freedom of opinion and expression, human
rights, terrorism and torture to assess the current human rights
situation, including by immediate visit to the country, and to urge
the Government to ensure their full and unhindered access to the
country.
3. "Conduct a full and impartial investigation into the assassination
of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
4. "Express its concern at the violations of human rights and the
breach of the rule of law in Pakistan, including [November 2007]
administrative detention of the UN Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir,
and the arrest warrant issued against her colleague Hina Jilani."
The Hong Kong, China-based Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC), in its
February 2008 report for the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan,
has recommended that the Geneva, Switzerland-based United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNHRC) must urge the Government of Pakistan to:
(1) "Immediately and unconditionally release all persons being
detained under preventative detention measures following the November
3, 2007 declaration of state of Emergency.
(2) "Strictly adhere to all laws in force in Pakistan prior to
November 3, 2007 and to applicable international standards protecting
the independence of lawyers and judges, and those governing the humane
treatment of prisoners, including the universal non-derogable
prohibition against torture and denial of due process.
(3) "Immediately reinstate and adhere to the [entire] Constitution of
the Republic of Pakistan.
(4) "Repeal all laws that came into force under the authority of the
November 3, 2007 Proclamation of Emergency Declaration, the
Provisional Constitutional Order No. 1 of 2007 and the Oath of Offices
(Judges) Order, 2007.
(5) "Reinstate all judges removed from office subsequent to the
Emergency Declaration and remove from office all judges appointed in
their stead.
(6) "Ratify the [UN] International Covenant on Civial and Political
Rights, the [UN] International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, the [UN] Convention Against Torture and the [UN]
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance as a priority, as well the relevant optional
protocols enabling individuals to make complaints at the international
level, and ensure that their provisions are implemented in domestic
laws and practices."
The Vancouver, Canada-based Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), in its
February 2008 statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), has advised the UNHRC to fulfill its duty to promote and
protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, an
independent judiciary and the rule of just & fair laws in Pakistan by
recommending and monitoring:
(1) "The immediate, unconditional release of detained jurists,
including: [Pakistan Supreme Court] Chief Justice Iftikhar [Muhammad]
Chaudhry; [Barrister-at-Law] Aitzaz Ahsan, President of the Supreme
Court Bar [Association of Pakistan (SCBAP)]; [Advocate] Ali Ahmed
Kurd, Justice (retired) Tariq Mahmood. [Advocate Tariq Mahmood was
reportedly released on 26 February 2008 from illegal detention by the
unconstitutional, unlawful and outlaw dictatorship of criminal tyrant
Pervez Musharraf.]
(2) "The rescission of all laws purporting to come into force under
authority of the Proclamation of Emergency of November 3, 2007.
(3) "The reinstatement of all judges removed from office by the
Provisional Constitution Order No. 1 of 2007, November 3, 2007, and
removal from office of judges signing the Oath of Offices (Judges)
Order, 2007 on conditions that are reasonable and just.
(4) "The strict adherence by Pakistan officials to laws validly in
force prior to November 3, 2007 and to applicable international
standards protecting the independence of lawyers and judges, including
those embodied in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and
the [UN] Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary.
(5) "Strict adherence by Pakistan to domestic law and [UN]
international standards governing arrests, detentions and the humane
treatment of prisoners, including non-derogable prohibition against
torture and cruel and inhumane treatment or punishment and denial of
due process.
Leave Your Comments