Amnesty urges Pak lawmakers to restore rights

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged lawmakers to restore of those rights suspended by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during an emergency in that country between November 3 and December 15 last year.

London, Mar 14 : Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged lawmakers to restore of those rights suspended by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf during an emergency in that country between November 3 and December 15 last year.

Tim Parritt, Amnesty's Deputy Head for Asia, said, "Steps taken by Pervez Musharraf as Chief of Army Staff and as President breached both national and international law."

"Musharraf had suspended fundamental rights including the right to life and freedom from discrimination. He put his actions beyond judicial review and replaced judges illegally," he added.

"Unless the new Parliament decides to undo these measures, the human rights are unlikely to be protected in Pakistan," said Parritt.

"Parliament must take concrete action, ensuring that human rights, the constitution and the judiciary are never again viewed as expendable tools to be tolerated by those in power only to the extent that they are useful. "Piecemeal amendments will not repair the long-term damage caused during the state of emergency - a sea change is needed in Pakistan's political culture," The News quoted, as saying.

ANI