The Prime Minister welcomed the proposal for including Human Rights as a subject in educational institutions and directed the ministry to present a detailed working paper for the consideration of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister directed Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Advisor to Prime Minister on Human Rights to strengthen his ministry so that the government can effectively implement its international and constitutional obligations in letter and spirit.
The Prime Minister said that Islam lays great emphasis on human rights. Human rights have now become all the more important as it has bearing on international economic co-operation as well, he added. Shaigan Shareef, Secretary Human Rights informed the Prime Minister that Pakistan was elected member of United Nations Human Rights Council for three years and secured 171 votes.
The Prime Minister said that the election of Pakistan to the Human Rights Council is a testimony of international recognition of Pakistan's commitment to human rights as well as its role in international relations. He said that the Ministry of Human Rights was established during the PPP government in 1995, which speaks volumes about the commitment of the party to the cause of human rights. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that due to the efforts of the ministry, the government ratified an international treaty on Committee Against Torture (CAT) as well as International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognised. It sent a clear message to the international community that Pakistan is serious and committed to uphold human rights, he added.