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HR convention

next month

ISLAMABAD: Government will hold human rights convention here next month to prepare a package for protecting human rights and promoting self-respect.

The new package will be in line with the directives of the Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf, to uphold human dignity of the common man in sphere of life.

Official sources told APP here on Sunday that the human rights package will contain administrative and legislative measure to achieve the desired results.

The package will be formally approved by the federal cabinet. The cabinet sub-committee at its recent meeting examined the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on human rights issues. It was presided over by the Minister for Law, Justice, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs Aziz A Munshi.

All human rights issues relating to women, children, minorities and other issues were deliberated upon in firming up the recommendations for submission to the Cabinet in the context of human dignity and human rights convention.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the Member, National Security Council, Dr Attia Anayatullah and Minister for Minorities Affairs Dr Derick Cyprian.

Sources said the basic human rights of Pakistan people have been safeguarded in the Constitution. "People are fortunate in the sense that their basic rights have been safeguarded in the Constitution".

The first formal world manifesto on human rights is enshrined in the last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). "This sermon makes it mandatory upon every Muslim to protect the basic human rights of fellow human beings, including respect for life and property and dignity, right to live a pious and dignified life, freedom of expression, availability of cheap and prompt justice, protection of social, political and economic rights and the right to live a free life under the faith and creed of one's choice".

Sources said Pakistan fully supports the efforts of the world community in regard to the human rights. But, he added, the world community should also participate in efforts to ensure basic human rights to Kashmiri people, especially their right to self-determination.

Pakistan is determined to preserve and promote basic human rights in accordance with world manifesto on human rights, besides adhering to the last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and spirit of the Constitution.

Pakistan, he said, is actively participating in world community's efforts to safeguard human rights.ÑAPP