Amnesty International would continue its efforts for promotion of peace and putting an end to violence against women and extra-judicial killings. President Amnesty International Pakistan, Fayyaz ur Rehman told newsmen here on Monday that the organisation has presence in more than 150 countries of the world with approximately 1.8 million people associated with it on voluntary basis.
Criticising the Government of Pakistan, he said that human rights violations including gender based violations and sectarian violence are being taking place in the country. In the recent years, surge has been noticed in violence against women, he added.
He said according to a report compiled by Amnesty, tens of thousands of cases under the Hudood laws are under process at various levels in legal system. He pointed out that more than 4100 people were killed on the name of honour in the last four years.
He said that dozens of Pakistanis as well as foreign men, women and children, were arrested on suspicion of carrying out terrorist activities and having links with al Qaeda. Some of them were handed over to US without adopting any legal process. He said that the government had failed to protect members of religious minorities from abuse by individuals. At least 72 people were charged and arrested under blasphemy laws. He also expressed concern over situation prevailing in Balochistan. He appealed to the government to develop the society as a non-discriminatory society where every Pakistani should be given due respect and honoured without any linguistic, religious, ethnic, gender, political or nationality discrimination.