Islamabad: During a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri called for the immediate implementation of recommendations for special laws to deliver speedy justice in human rights cases. This meeting, held at the Parliament Lodges, saw discussions focused on enhancing the legal framework and raising awareness on pressing human rights issues across Pakistan.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Balochistan, Senator Zehri emphasized the urgency of addressing the backlog of human rights cases and advocated for the swift enactment of the Human Rights Action Plan. The session highlighted the need for a national campaign to educate the public on human rights laws, particularly concerning domestic violence, child abuse, and rape.

The meeting was attended by notable senators and the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, along with the Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) and senior officials. They briefed the committee on the operations of key human rights institutions and discussed the social welfare centers’ plans for 2024-25.

Legal aid processes for women in prison were also scrutinized, with officials outlining the support available to deserving candidates. The newly launched Awaz app, designed for reporting human rights violations, was presented as a significant development, linking directly to the Prime Minister’s Office and operational for 18 hours daily.

The committee was informed about various initiatives, including the Human Rights Relief and Revolving Fund and the ICT Integrated Social Welfare System, aimed at providing comprehensive support to vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and victims of gender-based violence. Plans for digitizing services and expanding the reach of human rights education were also discussed.

The session concluded with a strong call to enhance public awareness of the available tools and resources, such as the Zara Alert and Awaz app, to ensure these initiatives have the intended impact on the community. The committee stressed the importance of continued government support and legislative action to safeguard human rights in Pakistan.