Pakistan was created to protect human rights

Pakistan was created to protect human rights

Dr. Jassim Taqui

“Let me reiterate before starting my lecture on Hum

an Rights that Pakistan  was created to promote the ideals of Human Rights and not otherwise. I appeal to His Eminence the Pop to personally interfere to protect the Human Rights in Kashmir. Pakistan fully supports the legitimate Human Rights of the Palestinian people. I support the role of the Pak Army in North Waziristan since its mission is to save the innocent people of FATA from the remnants of Al-Qaeda, TTP and other militant outfits. Building State’s institutions is the only viable way to defeat rogue elements. Fatima Jinnah contested the Governor of Pakistan’s elections. Had she defeated Gen. Ayub Khan, the 1965 war with India might not had happened ,”  were the highlights of a lecture by former Chief Justice of Pakistan Ali Nawaz Chowhan who was the Oxbridge speaker at Serena Hotel, Islamabad. The topic was Human Rights.

Chowhan said that  protecting Human Rights is a fundamental principle of Holy Quran, quoting extensively from the Holy Book and the Tradition of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH).

He traced protecting Human Rights to the Founding Father of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, quoting his speech in February, 1948 in which he stated . “ Make no mistake that Pakistan was not created to be a theocracy.”

 He also quoted Jinnah’s address to the Constituent Assembly on 11^th August, 1947 in which he said, “ You are free: you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed- that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

Turning to Pakistan Thinker Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Chowhan quoted his speeches, books and poetry in which he called for the unity, equality and freedom of the people. He also highlighted Iqbal’s call for exercising ijtihad (independent judgment)in his book titled “The reconstruction of Religious Thoughts in Islam.”

The concluding remarks were delivered by the renowned scholar and poet Dr.Irshad Ullah Khan, Secretary General Rhodes Scholar. He stated that Chowhan delivered a lecture full of wisdom. He described him as a man of deep insight and acumen. Khan disclosed that he was the only civilian who was allowed to visit North Waziristan and testified that “ the Army there was fighting for the human rights of the Waziris, which were usurped by Al-Qaeda and the militants.” He also called for protecting the human rights of the poor and the middle class of the society.

The ever green and renowned journalist Anjum Niaz surprised the elite gathering by demanding full human rights of women who constitute over 50 percent of the population of Pakistan. Everyone agreed.

Chief Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan was elected International Judge of the United Nations by the General Assembly and worked as such for the UN at The Hague, the Netherland 2006-2009 with the diplomatic status of Under Secretary General of the UN. He was the Chief Justice of the Republic of Gambia for over two years. Presently, he is the first Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights, Government of Pakistan. He was appointed by the President on the unanimous recommendation of the parliamentary  committee of both houses of Pakistan.

Note: Due to the importance of the topic and the fact that the lecture was not off record, our self-imposed brevity is regrettably sacrificed.