Writers’ role for human rights protection urged | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Writers’ role for human rights protection urged

By: Bari Baloch

QUETTA: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretary General I A Rehman has said the writers and artists will have to play their role in ending human rights violations and promotion of non-violence philosophy in the country especially in Balochistan. Addressing a seminar organised by HRCP here on Wednesday, he said though people have become aware of human rights and administrative flaws, yet there is need of utilising energies for maintaining a balance between rights and duties.

Rehman said that HRCP would hold more conventions in which writers and journalists across the country would be gathered to convince them play their effective role regarding human rights. He said that differences of opinion helped growing positive thinking but unfortunately the differences of opinion was used to repress and eliminate thinking and ideology of others which was not good. He said that HRCP was taking steps to end difficulties of common man in Balochistan but these efforts would deliver better results when writers and people belonging to media would effectively cooperate in this connection.

HRCP Balochistan Chairman Tahir Hussain Advocate said the organisation was playing an active role since 2002 to eliminate atmosphere of violence and promote brotherhood, but unfortunately the situation was neither good in Baloch-dominated areas nor Pashtoon belt in the province. He regretted that previously people had great respect for others’ opinion in the society but today in Balochistan, the youth instead of showing respect, prefer to impose their own opinion. He said that according to HRCP Balochistan record, 127 in 2011 and 106 in 2012 bullet-riddled bodies were recovered while 800 Shia Muslims had been killed since 1999, 500 during incumbent government and 300 in Pervez Musharraf regime.

Other speakers, including Niamatullah Gichki, senior journalist Shahzada Zulfiqar and Dr Abdul Qadir Shahwani also addressed on the occasion and shed light on the deteriorated law and order situation in Balochistan.

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