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Negativity against Islam, racism create problems for Muslims, EU envoy told
EU envoy meets members of Senate’s human rights body
APP
ISLAMABAD – Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed – member of Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights – has urged the European Union and champions of human rights to take a strong notice of the gross violation of human rights and atrocities of Indian armed forces in the held-Jammu Kashmir.
He expressed these views in a meeting of the Functional Committee on Human Rights with Stavros Lambrinidis, special representative of the European Union to Pakistan for Human Rights. Senator Mushahid presided over the meeting in the absence of Afrasiab Khattak, chairman of the committee.
Senators Farhatullah Babar and Suriya Amiruddin were also present on the occasion. Chairman of National Assembly’s Human Rights Committee Ch Mahmood Bashir Virk also attended the meeting. Lambrinidis said that his visit provided them an opportunity to interact with policymakers, media community and political leadership and exchanged views on matters pertaining to human rights and rule of law.
He expressed his strong support for the democracy in Pakistan and also conveyed his felicitations to the government and people of Pakistan for Malala Yousafzai on wining the Nobel Peace Prize. On the occasion, Mushahid said that Pakistan was committed to the promotion of human rights, rule of law and justice. However, he pointed out that the negative narrative against Islam and racism in the West were creating inconvenience for Muslims.
He expressed his satisfaction over good collaboration between Pakistan and the European Union on different issues and expressed the hope that bilateral relations between the two would grow further in future. Senator Mushahid also thanked the EU for its support to Pakistan on GSP Plus and stated that issues of human rights and rule of law were high on the agenda and the government was making all out efforts to address the issues.
Mahmood Bashir Virk said the overwhelming majority wanted rule of law and no discrimination on the basis of colour, creed or religion. He said that the constitution guaranteed human rights and there existed an independent judiciary and vibrant civil society. Senator Babar said that Pakistan was a signatory to different human rights conventions. He pointed out that the violation of human rights by Indian forces in the occupied state needed to be looked into.
Senator Suriya stated that policies were being framed in Pakistan to bring the women folk into mainstream. Senator Mushahid also presented reports of his committee to the visit envoy of the European Union.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk