18. The Government has set up comprehensive institutional mechanisms to ensure implementation of laws and policies and to take concrete action for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
A. Ministry of Human Rights
19. In November 2015, the Human Rights Wing of Ministry of Law and Justice was separated and was set up as a Ministry with the view to mainstream human rights in the country. It has a wide mandate and currently it has four Regional Offices. It has been allocated an amount of Rs. 1064.91 million during 2012-16 and Rs. 861.84 million has been utilized so far. A Helpline for Legal Advice on Human Rights Violations (1099) is functioning under the Ministry. More than 25,000 Calls have been received during the last year, out of which 2648 cases have been referred to concerned departments for redressal. It is also operating Women in Distress and Detention Fund (for financial and legal assistance to women), Diyat, Arsh and Daman Fund (for financial assistance to convicts) and Human
Rights Relief and Revolving Fund (Rs. 5.8 million dispersed among 459 victims of human rights violations in the last 3 years).
B. Provincial Human Rights Departments
20. All provinces have separate Human Rights Departments which are mandated to coordinate with public and private sector institutions as well as CSOs to promote human rights, to gather information, prepare fact finding reports on complaints and allegations of human rights violations and conduct inspections and visits. There are Human Rights Committees at District levels which can take up complaints and monitor human rights situation.
C. Parliamentary Committees on human rights
21. The Senate and National Assembly’s Standing Committees on human rights provide oversight mechanism on public policy, monitor the human rights situation, receive complaints on human rights violations, conduct inquiries and make recommendations.
These Committees have played an instrumental role in smooth adoption of various laws relating to human rights.
D. Human Rights Cells at Courts
22. In 2013, Human Rights Cells were expanded with a broader mandate and staff to provide an expeditious and inexpensive remedy in matters relating to infringements of fundamental rights. In addition, a separate Wing in the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court has been established to address violations of rights of overseas Pakistanis.
E. National Commission on Human Rights
23. A National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) has been established by an Act of the Parliament in 2012 and made functional since May 2015. It includes a Chairperson, who is a former Judge of the Superior Judiciary, and consists of nine members, i.e., one from each province, FATA, Islamabad Capital Territory and minority communities. The Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) is also its ex-officio member. The Commission has been given suo moto powers to take action against cases of all human rights violations in the country. The Act gives the Commission powers to hold inquiries and investigations with regard to violation of human rights anywhere in Pakistan.
24. In accordance with the Paris Principles, the Commission has been made financially independent. Government approved supplementary grant of Rs. 100 million for establishment of NCHR Fund. Moreover, 171 posts have also been created. Further, NCHR Complaint Rules, 2015 have been notified which elaborate the procedure regarding evaluation and disposal of complaints. The provinces are also in the process of establishing provincial commissions for human rights. For instance, Government of Sindh has set up the Sindh Human Rights Commission in 2013.
F. National and Provincial Commissions on Status of Women
25. NCSW was strengthened and granted financial and administrative autonomy under NCSW Act, 2012. Its mandate includes review of legislative, policy, institutional and
administrative mechanisms established to protect rights of women. During the financial year (FY) 2016-2017, NCSW was allocated Rs. 45 million. Sindh, KPK and Punjab have also set up Provincial Commissions for the Status of Women. The Balochistan Commission on the Status of Women Bill, 2017 is also under consideration. In addition, an Inter Provincial Ministerial Group (IPMG) comprising of Ministers for Women Development, Secretaries of Provincial Women Development Departments, Chairperson NCSW and Ministry of Human Rights was constituted to meet and to agree on key priorities for gender equality in line with our international commitments.
G. National Commission on the rights of children
26. The National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD) coordinates, monitors and facilitates implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. National Commission on the Rights of Children Bill, 2017 has been approved by the National Assembly. The Commission aims to promote, protect and monitor rights of children.
H. Strengthening of National Commission for Minorities
27. On 16 July 2014, the Terms of Reference of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) were revised with the view to make it more effective. Measures include, among others, development of national interfaith harmony policy, taking stock of discriminatory practices against minorities, ensuring participation of minorities in all spheres of national life, redressal of grievances of minorities and preservation and protection of places of worship of all minority communities.
I. National Council for Rights of Persons with Disabilities
28. The National Council for Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been set up with the view to monitor implementation of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and laws and policies relating to rights of persons with disabilities.
J. Offices of the ombudsman
29. Office of Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman) is functioning since 1983 to provide redress to people. The Ombudsman has headquarters in Islamabad and Regional Offices in major cities. Other ombudsman offices operating in Pakistan include Provincial Ombudsman offices in Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and KP. For instance, Ombudsman Punjab received a total of 24,637 complaints and 21,530 complaints were disposed off in 2016. Similarly, out of 1617 complaints, Ombudsman KP disposed off 1199 complaints during 2016. A banking ombudsman, the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan, a Federal Insurance Ombudsman and a Federal Tax Ombudsman and Federal Ombudsperson for Protection of Women against Harassment at Workplace are also functioning at federal and provincial levels.
30. National Children Committee (NCC) is working under the umbrella of Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan which has appointed children commissioners in all the four provinces and Islamabad to protect children’s fundamental rights and to provide them enabling environment for their development. The children commissioners have power to take suo moto notice on the state of children.