Mazari urges HRW to raise voice over HR violations in IOK

Islamabad : Federal Minster for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari on Tuesday urged Human Rights Watch (HRW) to raise voice against massive human rights violations carried out in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), Palestine and in some European States against Muslims citizens’.

The recommendation was made in a letter written by the Federal Minister in response to the letter of Director Human Rights Watch, USA to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The letter says that Pakistani government is well aware of its obligations and committed to ensure and protect the human rights of Pakistani citizens in pursuance to the constitution of Pakistan and international commitments; not by any external pressure.

Federal Minster for Human Rights Shireen Mazari asserted in a reply to the HRW that since the HRW letter mentions that the organization monitors human rights violations in over 90 countries, Pakistan, “I hope that you would also raise your voice against a massive human rights violations, carried out in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Palestine and in some European States against Muslims citizens”, writes the Minister.

Draft of the letter wrote to the Asia Director, Human Rights Watch Brad Adams, is; “Reference your letter to our Prime Minister, let me make it clear that the Prime Minister and the government are committed to ensuring the human rights guaranteed to all Pakistani citizens under the Constitution. In this context, we are well aware of the need to effectively enforce the laws regarding the enforcement of the human rights of all our citizens as well as the need to bring our national laws in alignment with our international legal commitments through the international treaties we have ratified. Our government is committed to ensuring the fulfillment of all our international legal obligations.

We will do all this because we believe in fulfilling our constitutional obligations and we certainly do not You claim you monitor human rights violations in over 90 countries, I hope that would include the need to be informed or reminded of our human rights agenda. My Ministry is already moving forward with a holistic action plan. We know the prevailing shortcomings in ensuring human rights of all our citizens and we are working to overcome them.

Since massive human rights violations are being carried out as a matter of state policy by India in Indian Occupied Kashmir and by Israel in Palestine. I may have missed your monitoring reports on these so would appreciate if you could refresh my memory.

Additionally, I hope your organization, HRW, will take up the issue of the violation of Human Rights by some European states against their Muslim citizens in the form of curtailing their right to practice their religion freely and in the form of abuse of Islam and its Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), in direct contravention of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Since HRW claims to monitor human rights across the world, I would like to be informed on how you are ensuring the rights of Muslim citizens to have their mosques and be able to dress and practice their religion freely and without ridicule in European states.

We will always welcome positive suggestions and inputs which can help further our government’s human rights agenda as we have many challenges confronting us; but an NGO’s institutional credibility will rest on its commitment to ensuring human rights across the globe not just in selective states.”