Defending human rights in Pakistan

Universal human rights day is being commemorated every year on December 10 for the last 63 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on the same date in 1948. This year’s theme was ‘Human Rights Defenders’. On the contrary, in Pakistan, the situation of Human Rights Defenders is worsening day by day keeping in view various threats faced by them in the country as a result of the ongoing extremism, talibanization, intolerance and corruption.

The cold blooded murder of Zarteef Khan Afridi, a prominent human rights defender from Khyber Agency of FATA allegedly by a group of the Taliban on December 08, just two days before the universal human rights day, reminds all human rights defenders that how unsafe Pakistan has become for them. Mr. Khan was a staunch supporter of women’s rights in FATA and considered education as a key to the cause of human rights. He kept asking the rulers for the last several years to invest in education if they are sincere in FATA’s development and eradicating extremism and poverty on sustainable grounds but in vain.

The tragic murder of Alamzeb in Karak, a human rights defender in the making, who stood firm by his sister Uzma Ayub who was kidnapped one year ago, held captive and repeatedly raped by several persons including policemen, and who managed to escape from her captors. The seventeen (17) years old girl was six months pregnant when reached back home and since then is running from pillar to post to seek justice with the help and support of his brother Alamzeb. After her escape she informed the local court, media and civil society organizations delegation that she was repeatedly raped not only by her kidnappers but also by police officials. Her sobbing mother said ‘Police is supposed to provide protection to the people but if they themselves become beasts, who will trust them?’At the tender age of seventeen (17), she has suffered much cruelty. Assistant Sub Inspector who raped the child repeatedly is known as Mangal Bagh (militant leader in Bara Khyber Agency) of Karak locally.

Alamzeb was determined to ensure justice for his sister and refused to bow down to the pressure put by the families of the accused and local religious leaders for a compromise with the accused and abortion by his sister. He was planning to transfer the case to Peshawar as he, his sister and other family members were receiving death threats from the jailed ASI Hakeem Khan and his brothers. Media and civil society kept highlighting the case urging the provincial government and police high ups to immediately take the accused policemen in custody so that they couldn’t influence the proceedings of the case and inquiry against them and should immediately provide security to the family members of the girl. The government was also urged to provide her with protection, medical assistance and legal aid that also resulted in Chief Minister Hoti’s notice of the case and ordering of an inquiry without any result though.

Due to the negligence of the police department and the provincial government, brothers of the main accused Hakeem Khan were able to kill Alamzeb in broad day light just one day before the universal human rights day in the presence of police at courts of Tehsil Takht Nusriti, District Karak. The case also highlights the concerns of civil society that the very institution “Police” which is suppose to protect human rights or human rights defenders and prevent violations of human rights are involved in heinous human rights violations themselves and are a threat to the human rights defenders like the one under discussion or a number of such cases reported in media regularly.

Human rights and child rights should be made an integral part of the police training curricula so that police officials are informed of their responsibilities as duty bearers to prevent violations of human rights including child rights at the time of training and refresher courses.

Be it the government, civil society or the international community, we all owe Zarteef Khan Afridi and Alamzeb Khattak, the brave human rights defenders who sacrificed their lives for the protection of human rights, to continue their struggle for justice and the protection of human rights what may come. The role of police department and judiciary is important in order to ensure speedy justice to Uzma Ayub and brining Alamzeb’s killers to task and of the federal and provincial governments to provide her with security and financial assistance.