Islamabad, the 7th October, 2019: The 5th meeting of the Standing Committee on Human Rights was held today at 12:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 2, Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, MNA.
 
The Committee was given briefing by the Special Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs on severe Human Rights violations have been observed in Indian Occupied Kashmir, as well as, steps taken to highlight those before international forums / Governments. The Committee was also briefed on the report on Human Rights violation prepared by UN Human Rights Office. It was informed that the existing situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir is the worst. Pakistan is completely supporting the People of Kashmir politically and morally. The Government emphasized that the issue must be resolved in accordance with United Nation’s Resolution. The Government has taken up this issue internationally at all levels which are supported by China, Turkey and other countries. The issue has also been discussed in General Assembly of United Nation. Human Rights Commission including American Senators criticized the Human Rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. Committee recommended that the detailed briefing on the steps taken by the Government to deal with the Human Rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir may be given in its next meeting.  
 
The Committee approved “The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2019”.
 
Acting Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) briefed the Committee on the prosecution of journalist Shahzaib Jillani and informed that after the investigation most of the charges were deleted by the FIA in the FIR and the Challan Report was forwarded to the Court where the Court also deleted the remaining charge. After detail discussion the Committee recommended that the abuse of the sections 20 and 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 shall be prevented. The Committee also recommended that the agency shall submit the half yearly report under section 49A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 before the both houses of the parliament.   
 
The Committee deferred the rest of its agenda items till its next meeting.
 
Ms. Ghulam Bibi, Mr. Saif-ur-Rehman, Mr. Attaullah, Ms. Kishwer Zehra, Ms. Zille Huma, Ms. Fouzia Behram, Ms. Shunila Ruth, Agha Hassan Baloch, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, Mr. Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Shazia Marri, and Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto. The meeting was also attended by Senator (Rtd.) Mr. Farhatullah Khan Babar as Special Invitee. Secretary M/o Human Rights, Special Secretaries M/o Interior and M/o Foreign Affairs, Additional Secretary M/o Information Technology and Telecommunication, Additional Secretary M/o Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony, Acting Director General (FIA) and other concerned senior officers attended the meeting.