Missing persons: UN group not fact-finding mission: FM

Pakistan

Missing persons: UN group not fact-finding mission: FM

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FM Tehmina Khar says UN group on missing persons to clear misperceptions about missing persons.

12 September,2012 06:44 am

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Wednesday UN working group had come to Pakistan on the invitation of government of Pakistan and it was not a fact finding mission.“UN working group has come to Pakistan on the invitation of government of Pakistan.It is not a fact finding mission.Its visit to Pakistan is aimed at making clear on the world factual position about missing persons and dispelling propaganda on this count, foreign minister said this while giving a policy statement in National Assembly (NA) Wednesday.She held some misconception had surfaced up about working group visit. UN delegation which had come to Pakistan on a visit was not a commission but it was a working group.Missing persons in Pakistan were not larger in number and the situation was not what was being propagated at international level, she underlined.Pakistan had participated in the formation of UN Human Rights Council and now we are working with it, she indicated.It was reviewing human rights situation across the world, she added. A report in this respect would be presented before the commission in October, she informed.She went on to say that a report depicting real situation of human rights in Pakistan be presented before UN. Parliamentary and Judicial Commissions were working in Pakistan with reference to missing persons and this case was also subjudice , she stated.UN working group was not undertaking some secret mission nor it was conducting any investigation with regard to missing persons, she pointed out. On the other hand it was carrying out overall review of human rights situation in the country so that a comprehensive and transparent report could be evolved, she added.She told the house that Missing Persons Commission chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal had met working group in Geneva in March. As many as 91 countries were working with UN Human Rights Group, she stated.Human rights situation was improving gradually in Pakistan due to free media, independent judiciary and vibrant civil society, she remarked.UN Working Group was working in Pakistan in consonance with guidelines and rules and regulations, she said. This group is not working with reference to any sensitive issue or political matter, she remarked.Parliamentarians should see before giving any remark about UN group that what impact the remarks would leave, she cautioned.