HUMAN RIGHTS
Situation of human rights is not very rosy in Pakistan. Various
factors ranging from feudal lordism, bureaucratic dispensation
of justice, political interference, intricate and time consuming
system of judiciary, immense powers given to police and above
all, low rate of literacy in the masses appear to be the main
cause leading to miserable plight of basic human rights.
SHARP has taken up and proceeded many challenging cases of
illegal confinement of minors, women as well as others. SHARP
traced and perused many such cases with the support of area
Magistrates and concerned authorities and got them released
by providing personal surety of the SHARP lawyers whenever
required. SHARP has established free legal aid centers at
different parts of the country where the volunteer lawyers
are providing free legal aid to the victims of Human Rights
violations. Attorneys of human Rights are also providing assistance
in many areas of the countries.
SHARP's ATTORNEYs OF HUMAN RIGHTS
NWFP ||
Punjab
||
Sind ||
Balochistan
LEGAL AID CENTERS:
1. Islamabad Free Legal Aid Center: This office is
providing free legal assistance to the needy and desrving people.
Mr. Muhammad Ismail Baloch - and Mr. Mohammad Arif Khan - Advocates
High Court are the volunteer lawyers in the chamber offering
free service on behalf of SHARP.
2. Peshawar Free Legal Aid Center: At Peshawar chamber our lawyers
Mr.Sheraz Khan, and Mr. Mehmood Gohar - Advocates High Court,
are actively dealing with many cases in different courts. In
the past years the office provided legal aid to more than 1000
people including women, children and refugees.
3. Karachi Free Legal Aid Center: Hundreds of cases are at the
credit of this center as a result of immense efforts made by
Mr. H.M.Abbas Advocate, Coordinator SHARP and volunteer lawyers
affiliated with the center.
PRISONERS AID:
Our prisons are over crowded with prisoners due
to the complicated police and Judicial System. A campaign for
the reformation of prisons and prisoners was undertaken in 2000
when a fact finding mission by SHARP came to know that the number
of prisoners exceeded 5,000 for the Adiala Jail (Rawalpindi
Pakistan), which has a maximum capacity of only 2,000 prisoners.
The primary reasons for the jails being overly populated are:
1. Since majority of the prisoners are those who are awaiting
trial in the courts, they are held in the jails while the delays
in the proceedings to start in court may take a couple of years.
2. Despite the higher courts standing instructions of higher
judicairy, prisoners often are not released on personal surety
in minor cases, so hundreds of prisoners of this nature are
detained in jails and not looked after properly.
3. Over crowded jails cannot provide basic facilities to the
prisoners. This is the reason that no project concerning food,
health, education etc. got successful in the jails.
4. SHARP is actively working in this field and is hopeful that
authorities concerned shall take proper action for the betterment
of both prisons and the prisoners. SHARP intends soon launching
a movement in this regard. SHARP has been contributing in providing
aid to the prisoners and has made noteworthy contributions so
far.
To view the relevant
accomplishments and achievements of SHARP for providing aid
and assistance to the prisoners, click HERE (achievement section).
Struggle Against Discriminatory Laws:
SHARP believes that each and every person of the
society must feel secure and have equal rights in both sharing
responsibility and enjoying civil rights. This cannot be achieved
unless these factions enjoy protection against human rights
abuses. SHARP has deep concern over several shortcomings in
the laws and keeps its struggle accelerated against these drawbacks.
SHARP looks forward to have its voice heard to make necessary
amendments in the laws leading to discrimination.
The volunarable groups of society are women, children, prisoners,
minorities and large number of refugees, who do not enjoy
even the basic rights.
