Tuesday 11 February 2014

Human Rights Cell of Overseas Pakistanis

Thursday, February 6, 2014
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RECENTLY Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani ordered a wing at human rights cell of the Supreme Court to launch a...


Subject:         Human Rights cell for Overseas Pakistanis’?

Recently, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gilani has ordered a wing at Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court to launch a complaint cell to address the overseas community issues arising in their homeland. This announcement is welcomed, but, it has its reservations – in terms of “absence of a path of channel” whereby, the expatriates float their voice to the Apex court.  

The idea initially generated by Chief justice will address by and large issues of the expatriates but at the same time it needs to clear the cloud on its correspondence and feedback loop.

It seeks to safeguard expatriates rights and interests in terms of their right to vote, address the issues related to frauds by land grabbers and harassment faced due to their relatives and attorneys in property matters. This idea will receive laurels in the overseas community, but, is the wing of Supreme Court fully equipped to meet the challenges of the problems faced by the expatriates on email only?  

Firstly, please intimate the email address of the complaint cell. An assurance would be certainly appreciated that the concerns of overseas Pakistanis will be addressed within 24 hours and that too in their homeland. 

Secondly, will the respective embassy of the country of their domain help in coordination of matters arising as a result of the complaints filed? 
Thirdly, will the expatriates have the right to vote in the next general elections?

When the entry of a common man is restricted in the Supreme Court, how will Overseas Pakistanis convey their sentiments and share their sorrow and grief – when there is no mode of channel specified?

Will a female British Muslim facing domestic violence be assured that her email would be responded within 24 hours? Will the wing of Human Rights at Apex court rescue her – at UK embassy expenses? Will the Supreme Court bear the trial expense of British Muslim? Will the Human Rights cell of the Apex court free her property from her husband’s hand?

All these questions must be answered by the concerned authorities before Supreme Court wing of Human Rights cell makes tall claims that they “would be working” in the best interests of the “Overseas Pakistanis Welfare.”

 The idea, if adhered, in terms of responding emails and processing the expatriates applications within 24 hours will certainly be mentioned in the overseas community history with Golden Words.”

By:       KANWAL ABIDI  
 *Islamabad                                      *Dated:  28th Jan 2013
 *Tweets @KANWALanalyst

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