Pak. rights panel hits out at Musharraf regime

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 22. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has come down heavily on the military government for its poor track record in defending the rights of every section of Pakistani society.

In a harsh judgment on the Musharraf regime, the HRCP, known for its independence, accused the military of using torture and colluding with extremist religious elements to silence critics.

The annual report for 2000 said the regime was trampling on human rights while posturing as the protector of democracy and people's power.

``The vacuum created by the military regime's strategy of discrediting and sidelining political parties and their leaders was ideally suited to the orthodox clergy and its militant formations took little time to move into the space left behind...The outpourings of vicious hatred from these clergymen, in direct violation of the law, not surprisingly resulted in numerous incidents of violence, harassment and even cold-blooded murder.''

Highlighting rights violations in various spheres of life, the HRCP said the government had failed on almost every front despite its bold promises to improve women's rights, rein in extremists and restore genuine democracy.

The report said six Supreme Court judges, including the then Chief Justice, and 13 High Court judges, who declined to take the new oath prescribed by the military government, were dropped and not invited to the oath-taking ceremonies of their successors.

In 2000, the government had promulgated 65 ordinances. Of these, 21 were new and the remaining were amendments to or revisions in earlier statutes. ``Fifty three of the 65 ordinances were aimed at strengthening the State apparatus raising revenue- collecting capacity and to make intra-administrative adjustments.

The rate of crime across the country remained high with even officialdom accepting a problem in the Punjab. The huge increase in the number of licensed arms almost certainly contributed to the trend.

There were 109 incidents of bomb blasts, in which 149 persons were killed. 40 were killed in sectarian violence. Crimes against women, including murder and rape, continued to climb. In Punjab alone there were 315 `honour' killings (of those accused of illicit relations).

``The rising suicide rate raised questions about treating such cases merely as an offence. According to one study, 158 cases of suicide were reported in Karachi alone during the year, with 109 men and 40 having apparently taken their own lives.''

The exit control list grew to over 3,000 names early in the year until steps were taken to make the document less `voluminous'. A ban on all public meetings severely restricted the right to assembly. Traders, students, teachers, clerks and other groups were prevented from organising peaceful gatherings. Arrests were conducted specifically to prevent travel to attend political rallies and movement of members of Pakistan Muslim League were repeatedly restrained.

A procedural amendment in the blasphemy law intended to check possible abuse of the legislation was withdrawn after protests by orthodox religious groups.

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