Parliament Approves NCHR Annual Performance Report

News Desk

Islamabad: For the first time since the establishment of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in 2012, the Commission presented its annual performance report in Parliament.

According to the report, the Commission dealt with a total of 2,972 complaints during the last year. Among these complaints, 2459 were disposed of, whereas 513 are under process. The Parliament has given the approval of the report.

On behalf of the Human Rights Federal Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Law and Justice Federal Minister Azam Nazir Tarar presented the NCHR annual report for the period from December 2021 to December 2022, in the sitting of the National Assembly held on July 31 and Senate on July 2.

The Commission dealt with a total of 2972 cases last year

The report highlights the NCHR’s performance during last year, ranging from the number of complaints dealt with by the Commission to the suo moto actions, visits to jails and hospitals, research reports and fact-finding missions, awareness campaigns conducted by the Commission and the actions taken by the government as a result of NCHR interventions.

The annual report shows that the Commission dealt with a total of 2972 cases last year. Among these complaints, 2459 complaints were disposed off, whereas 513 are under process. The report also shares the details of the cases highlighted by the Commission and the action taken on those cases.

The report states that the Commission members visited 21 jails, sub-jails and district jails in one year and raised a strong voice regarding the challenges faced by inmates. The Commission also prepared a manual for police and medico-legal examiners on the best practices of investigating torture.

On the recommendation of NCHR, Inspector General of Police (IGP)Punjab directed heads of all police training institutes to make module of prevention of custodial torture a part of all promotional and mandatory courses.

85 juvenile prisoners were released from Punjab and Balochistan prisons: Report

As a result of NCHR’s intervention, 85 juvenile prisoners were released from Punjab and Balochistan prisons. NCHR’s efforts also led to the first ever notification of Juvenile Justice Committees in Islamabad and the notification of two Human Rights Courts.

The report states that the Commission reviewed and lobbied for 15 legislation and launched or still working on 7 fact-finding and research reports. The Commission ran 17 awareness campaigns around human rights issues.

As a result of NCHR’s intervention, 600 students of three new medical colleges from Balochistan were registered by Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC). The PMC denied registration of these students before the action was taken by the Commission in response to a complaint.

The Commission gave 20 recommendations to address the mental health infrastructure in the country: Report

In another fact-finding report into the state of mental health legislation, policies, licensing, and facilities in the country, the Commission gave 20 recommendations to address the mental health infrastructure in the country which was shared with Parliamentarians, Registrar of the Supreme Court, President, and Prime Minister’s office.

The report was acknowledged by the President of Pakistan in an address to the joint session of Parliament and it also contributed in levelling a ground for approval of a law to decriminalise suicide in the country.

In response to a letter written by NCHR to the Chief Election Commissioner, the Pakistan Election Commission changed the date of local body elections which were scheduled on Christmas day.

The NCHR was also successful in getting pledges from the Punjab, KP and Bloachistan governments for removing the column of religion in the job advertisements for sanitary workers.