President Supreme Court Bar Association, Asma Jahangir has expressed her concern over the kidnapping of children for ransom and target killing of Punjabis in Balochistan. She expressed grief over the issue while talking to newsmen during a "Peace and Solidarity" rally organised under the banner of Aman Ittehad an alliance of various NGOs. The rally was commenced from GPO Chowk that was terminated peacefully at the Faysal Chowk here on Saturday.
The NGOs also staged rallies on the same issue in 108 various locations across the country to raise voice against the violation of basic rights. Hina Jilani, Advocate, Khawar Mumtaz, Chief Executive Office Shirkat Gah, I.A Rehman, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mohammad Tahseen, founding Director of South Asia Partnership Pakistan, and Irfan Mufti, Executive Director South Asia Partnership Pakistan also addressed the rally.
Asma said that every one knows who is responsible for creating crisis in Balochistan but nobody dares to check such culprits. She said that presently unrest not only prevail in the government circle but also in opposition parties and general public as well. She added that people of Pakistan never wished to create fictitious case against the minorities. While criticising the role of religious parties, she said during 80's decade they were the close ally of America and left our children with guns in their hands rather than books. The Supreme Court Bar President further said that peoples' views could never be changed by threatening them. Because of such Hippocratic role on the part of religious parties, the general public never voted them into power, she maintained.
The other speakers raised their concern on the issue and asked the government to ensure adequate, effective, mandatory safeguards to all citizens including minorities under the constitution of Pakistan. Besides, the government must take steps for the protection of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, economic and political rights of the minorities. The speakers urged the government to abolish parallel judicial system in the country and asked for equal opportunities and rights for the minorities by strengthening institutions and ensuring supremacy of the parliament.
They further said that it's the considered view of this rally that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country and acceptable to its people unless provinces are provided autonomy. The parliament must frame laws to ensure protection for the non-Muslims, they added.