JUI-F writes letter to HRCP, claims its rights are being curbed – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) wrote a letter to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) claiming that the government had "restricted the fundamental rights" of the party.

Harris Khalique, Secretary General of the HRCP, revealed during a seminar, "Recovering civic spaces in Pakistan," at a hotel on Thursday that the government had arrested hundreds of JUI-F workers to thwart party plans for a march on Islamabad

"The JUI-F has claimed that its workers are being arrested and a directive has been given to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to ensure that the statements and interviews of the head of the Maulana Fazlur Rehman party are not broadcast on television," said.

Khalique said it was not the first time that a party had approached the HRCP with a complaint that their basic rights were being repressed.

“The Pakistan-Nawaz Muslim League had also written such a letter and informed us that it faces the same problems. From time to time, the Popular Party of Pakistan also writes those letters, ”added Harris Khalique.

I A. Rehman, former secretary general of the commission, said that even those who face accusations of human rights violations had written to the HRCP that their basic rights were being violated.

Rehman said in his speech that the arrival of new technologies had raised hopes that censorship would vanish.

“Instead, it has given oppressive regimes new tools to silence dissent, especially after September 11. Now the voice is silenced even during live shows and governments have become more reserved instead of being open to the public. In the past, the first information reports were registered against journalists, but now their services are finished, ”he added.

Farhatullah Babar, an unconditional PPP, differed with the suggestion of some activists that they should not support the JUI-F march due to the party's position on women's rights. His argument was that "you should not leave the vacant platform for one of the parties."

"It may be difficult for some of you to support Fazlur Rehman, but if we leave the platform vacant, only his narrative (from Fazlur Rehman) will be heard," he said.

Khawar Mumtaz, president of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), said that civil society organizations, especially women, are the most affected by the growing trend of restrictions on social spaces by the government.

Journalists Iqbal Khattak and Murtaza Solangi spoke about "obvious and latent restrictions" imposed on freedom of expression by silencing or manipulating voices in print, electronic and social media.

Posted on Dawn, October 25, 2019