HRCP, HRW urge govt to repeal counterterrorism law

HRW urges govt to repeal counterterrorism law by dawn-news ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan while describing the Protection of Pakistan Bill, adopted by parliament this week, as a blatant attack on the fundamental rights of the people, said that by adopting and enacting this law the government was following the model of a police state. “The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is appalled at the failure of parliament to block the passage of the Protection of Pakistan Bill, a draconian legislation to the core", its chairperson Zohra Yousaf said in a statement. "It seems the period of eight months since the first version of this pernicious law was promulgated as an ordinance was spent on a fruitless exercise to turn an innately black measure white", she said. The chairperson said "While the Senate did increase a few safeguards against the capricious use of the powers granted to law enforcing agencies, it achieved little more than giving the bitter pill a thicker coating of sugar." "The law enforcing personnel still have the power to open fire on anyone they declare to be a suspect and they still have unbridled authority to detain people, not only for 60 days but for longer periods", the HRCP chairperson said. The addition of broadly defined ‘militants’ and insurgents to the list of the security agencies’ targets makes the measure more sinister than before. she said The loose language of the bill and the power allowed to the government to add new offences to the schedule heighten fears of the enactment’s abuse, especially in areas such as Balochistan where political dissent has long been construed as sedition. The chairperson said In its efforts to make a law that directly attacks the people’s civil rights the government has done a disservice to justice and democracy both, a decision that will cause a lot more misery to innocent people than ‘enemy aliens’. HRCP calls upon all fair-minded lovers of democracy and human rights to continue their resistance to the measure till the authorities can see light and realise the need for undoing their folly.” HRW condemnation Earlier,the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the Pakistani government to repeal a counterterrorism law that it says threatens basic freedoms and rights in violation of Pakistan's international legal obligations. On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed the Protection of Pakistan Bill in replacement of the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance which the Senate refused to approve in April over mounting concerns that it violated human rights. The Senate approved the bill on July 1 and President Mamnoon Hussain is scheduled to sign it into law within a few days. “This vague and overbroad counterterrorism law gives a green light for abusing suspects in detention, which is already far too common in Pakistan,” said Phelim Kine, HRW's deputy Asia director. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as leader of the House in the National Assembly, should ensure that this law is replaced by one that ensures the protection of basic rights in the fight against terrorism,” Kline was quoted as saying in a report published by the HRW. The report said the new law would violate fundamental rights pertaining to privacy, freedom of speech, peaceful assembly as well as due process protection embodied in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which was ratified by Pakistan in 2010. Whereas, the law would suppress peaceful political opposition and criticism of the government policy in its current form. According to media reports, the approval of the law by the Parliament and Senate was a means to render support to the Pakistan Army which launched the ongoing Zarb-i-Azb operation against foreign and local militants in North Waziristan. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said the law would give “statutory cover” to those security personnel engaged in the operation. The bill is described as necessary “for protection against waging of war or insurrection against Pakistan and the prevention of acts threatening security of Pakistan” and in order to speed up the investigation and prosecution in terrorism cases. In some respects, the bill can be regarded as an improvement over its predecessor, the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013. The earlier ordinance only entailed an internal inquiry for security forces’ personnel suspected of committing abuses, which led to a lack of accountability whereas the new law would necessitate a judicial inquiry for such cases. The report noted that the proposed counterterrorism law contained vague definitions that would be used to prosecute peaceful political protesters and those who voice their opinion against government policies. Terrorism is a very pressing concern in Pakistan. On June 8, militant organisation Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accepted responsibility for attacking the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The brazen assault left 28 people dead, including 10 attackers. Meanwhile, at least 23 Shia pilgrims were killed and several others injured in suicide attacks and firing at two hotels in Taftan, a town near the border with Iran on June 8. “Denying Pakistanis their universal rights and freedoms as a means to fight terrorism is a victory for the terrorists and a defeat for rule of law,” Kine said. “The government should fully reassess the implications of the Protection of Pakistan Bill with input from local groups and international experts to draft a law that protects the public without sacrificing their rights.”