Karachi, July 18, 2023 (PPI-OT): Zoë Ware, Acting Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission called on Surendar Valasali Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh for Human Rights at his office in Karachi. Special Assistant was accompanied by Jawed Sibghatullah Mahar, Secretary Human Rights Department and Jameel Hussain Junejo, Executive Coordinator, Treaty Implementation Cell, Human Rights Department. Whereas, Zoe was accompanied by Antonia Murray Second Secretary Human Rights, Ayesha Durrani (Programme Analyst) and Areej Yasin (Senior Political Advisor). Key priorities of Human Rights Department and implementation challenges were discussed.
Special Assistant apprised the envoy that Human Rights Department has prepared a Human Rights policy in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders, which is re-submitted for the consideration and approval for by the Provincial Cabinet. He shared that it reflects the ideological and political commitment of PPP toward human rights protection and promotion.
Special Assistant apprised the envoy that one of the key priorities of the Department is to build capacity of the duty bearers on human rights and raise awareness among the masses. He shared that recently department rolled out a series of awareness activities aiming at raising awareness among the general masses on human rights and enhancing capacity of the criminal justice system actors and other relevant institutions such as Police and Prosecution on the legal framework particularly on special laws concerning marginalized sections of the society including women and children. These capacity building events were held at divisional level in all division of Sindh and in training police centers such as Police Training College Ganjotakar (Hyderabad) Police Training College Shahdapur. Further, 40 seminars were held across province of Sindh on Human Rights.
He also shared that under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Chairman PPP and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Sindh government and HR department are striving hard to promote and protect human rights. To exemplify, this year legal aid grant for needy and poor people, mostly victims of HR abuses have been increased from 50 million to 100 million covering all districts of Sindh. Also, grant for Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is increased.
Surendar Valasai said that we are under strict directives from Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that there will be no compromise on human rights violations especially the abuse of women and children adding that prompt actions are being taken against the tormenters of human rights through police and other law enforcing agencies without any discrimination. He said that minorities are well-represented and well-protected and billions of rupees are being spent on their welfare and worship places through Minority Affairs Department adding that we don’t deny isolated incidents of forced conversions but the tendency of declaring every conversion as forced conversion is part of propaganda unleashed by unfriendly lobbies.
Secretary Human Rights Department Jawed Sibghatullah Mahar briefed that Human Rights Department provided legal aid to 870 poor and needy people across various districts of Sindh through legal aid grant in collaboration with two legal aid firms. The broader categories under which legal aid have been given to women include, but are not limited to, domestic violence, sexual violence including rape, share in property, cyber harassment and custody of children. He also shared that this department works in close coordination with other departments of government of Sindh for promotion and protection of human rights and reporting under international reporting obligations.
For more information, contact:
PPP Media Cell (Sindh)
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,
Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan
Cell: +92-305-3370383
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk