MP Mengal convenes meeting of the Commission to investigate the grievances of Baloch Students

Islamabad: November 5, 2022 (Online): The 6th meeting of the Commission formed in light of the IHC order to examine the grievances of Baloch students was held here at Parliament House on Saturday with Member National Assembly, Sardar Akhtar Mengal in the Chair.

Members deliberated upon the outline of the commission’s report in the light of discusion held during the previous meetings of the commission.

Secretary of the commission briefed the members regarding the progress on the compilation of report to be submitted before 10th of December 2022.

Prof Dr. Asma Faiz in her preliminary recommendations emphasized the importance of acknowledgement and celebration of ethnic diversity of Pakistan;Training and orientation of the students to instill greater sensitivity and receptivity. Awareness about inclusivity and diversity be made part of the curriculum. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed endorsed her recommendations and added that the tackling mechanism must be institutionalized and new students should be provided necessary training in this regard.

NasirMehmoodKhosa, former chief secretary Balochistan called for setting up a inter ministerial body which includes all the relevant stakeholders on the analogy of work done for FATF delisting. He underlined that Constitution of Pakistan has guaranteed the protection of individual fundamental human rights of every citizen and it has relevant provisions to deal with the menance of enforsed disapperances and racial profiling. Director General, Ministry of Human Rights briefed the members in detail on the international conventions of Human Rights to which Pakistan is signatory. He further informed that relevant forums of the UN have given specific recommendation to Pakistan for making enforced dissapperances a criminal offense and hold individual enquiries into such cases. Special Secretary Ministry of Interior suggested ways and means to move forward towards resolution of the issue.

Moreover the committee was apprised that high court order for constitution of commission to examine the issues of baloch students has been challenged by the federal government in Supreme Court. Members with consensus decided that a letter be written to the Prime Minister on behalf of the commission to withdraw the government appeals in this regard. Furthermore, The commission will hold a special meeting in Quetta to meet all stakeholders and the baloch students.

Commission also directed the Chief Secretary Balochistan to publicise the recently established special Cells at Divisional HQ level in the press to inform the general public so that people can reach out for resolution of their grievances.

Commission also sought compliance report from Chief Secretary Blochistan regarding the directions made in the previous meetings, to be submitted with in one week.

Commission decided to seek briefing from the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) during next meeting.

Senators, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Kamran Murtaza, former Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Members, Dr. AsmaFaiz, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Senior officials from Ministry of Human Rights and Interior Ministry were in attendance.