President Arif Alvi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the timeframe in compliance with Supreme Court’s Order dated March 1st, 2023, to avoid further complications including contempt of court.
He urged premier Shehbaz Sharif that all ‘executive authorities’ of federal and provincial governments should refrain from abuse of human rights and also
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President Alvi said events have taken place in the recent past highlighted by the print, electronic and social media about glaring violations of fundamental and human rights that need to be brought to your notice to ensure remedial measures and preventive action.
“Your attention is drawn towards the seriousness of these incidents of Human Rights violations, atrocities of police/law enforcement agencies and grossly disproportionate use of force against the citizens of Pakistan. Multiple fake and frivolous cases have been registered against politicians, workers, journalists and media persons. Houses of political workers have been raided and citizens abducted without warrants and lawful justification,” Alvi said.
The letter reads, “The incidents of Human Rights violations and oppression by state machinery against innocent citizens are in clear breach and violations of Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Article 4 of the Constitution that provides for, and guarantees citizens to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with the law.”
Fundamental rights violations
The Chapter on Fundamental Rights elaborates in Article 9 on ‘security of person’, Article 10 on ‘safeguards as to arrest and detention’, Article 10-A on ‘right to fair trial’, Article 14 on ‘inviolability of dignity of man etc.’, Article 15 on ‘freedom of movement etc.’, Article 16 on ‘freedom of assembly’, Article 17 on ‘freedom of association’ and Article 19 on ‘freedom of speech’.
The spirit and mandate of all the above articles are being clearly transgressed. This has tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community and is casting negative repercussions on the future of democracy and state of Human Rights in Pakistan.
World Press Freedom Index
In World Press Freedom Index of 2021, Pakistan ranked 145 out of 180 countries and dropped to 157 i.e. 12 points downwards in the World Press Freedom Index, 2022, which reflects sorry state of affairs and this year’s actions and images thereof will further exacerbate our already dismal ranking. In recent months, Media has been further suppressed and journalists have also been subjected to charges of sedition and terrorism to stifle dissent and criticism against the government. It appears that a reign of terror has been unleashed against the media persons who have independent opinions.
