Murad acknowledges weaknesses in implementing human rights laws

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the provincial government has enacted a large number of laws to ensure protection of human rights but due to weaknesses in the implementation system they have not been implemented in true letter and spirit.

"Being a chief minister, I am under oath to protect human right as enshrined in the constitution of 1973, therefore, I have always been striving to upheld human rights irrespective of cast, religion and sex."

"This is the lesson our great leader Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto taught to the people of Pakistan through the constitution. The preamble of the constitution emphasises on human rights and freedom of speech."

This he said while speaking at a seminar entitled "Human Rights Commitments: Challenges & Way forward" organised by PILER here at a local Hotel. The seminar was attended by human rights activists, members of civil society, lawyers, doctors, students and top of it representatives of transgender community.

The chief minister said that freedom of speech has been guaranteed in the constitution but "what happens after delivering the speech has not been guaranteed," he said in a lighter mood and went on saying that the politicians had the ability to bear the bashing but "this must be within the framework of moralities and respect," he said and further added, "the politicians also enjoy human rights."

Shah giving an oblique reference to PTI government and their provincial and federal leaders, said that some of the politicians terming all the others as 'thieves' were operating their politics but this was not acceptable in the civilised society.

Referring to the protest and manhandling of a provincial minister, the chief minister said that it was against the spirit of the human rights. "You have every right to stage peaceful demonstration but have no right to disrespect, manhandle and insult someone," he said.

Students Union: the chief minister replying to a question from the audience, said that he as a student had witnessed the performance of students union and also witnessed ban on them.

"I am in favour of students union because they are the nurseries to produce political leaders and activists. The union means to protect the rights of students, ensure proper classes in the educational institutions, conduct their examination in time and involve in extra-curricular activities and engage in cultural and social activities," he said and added there was still a strong opposition against the restoration of the students union because they consider them as a revival of negative activities.

"This is why I have directed the standing committee of provincial assembly on law to invite all the stake holders, including students, teachers, educationist, lawyers, parents, social workers and others to seek their input for framing a best law for students union," he said.

Haris: Interacting to another Hari leader who said that there was no concept of 'account keeping' between the landlord and the hari in tenancy act, the chief minister said that in 1977 when martial law was imposed and his father was arrested he had started looking after the lands of his father.

"I used to keep record of each and everything with our peasants and always kept them happy," he said and added, "There must be a contract between the landlord and the peasant and its complete account should be maintained."

He said that the government through a law has given social protection to agricultural workers and it would be implemented in true letter and spirit.

Journalists: To another question, the chief minister said that his government had released payment to the owners of the newspapers and media houses on the condition that they would release salaries of their employees.

"The media houses owners are not our subordinate but to some extent they have made us their subordinate, therefore we can't force them," he said and added the media has also violated its self-imposed code of conduct by printing and airing baseless news items. "I am with you unconditionally but you must respect your rights and the rights of people in the government.

He said that the journalists and the politicians always operate together, therefore, we must respect each other.