South Asia

South Asia sub-regional hearing and Pakistan national hearing

2007

 

South Asia sub-regional hearing

On 2 March 2007, the Eminent Jurists Panel on Terrorism, Counter-terrorism and Human Rights concluded its sub-regional hearing on South Asia, held in New Delhi to assess the impact of terrorism and counter-terrorism on human rights.

The Panel was represented by its Chair, Justice Arthur Chaskalson, former Chief Justice and first President of South Africa’s Constitutional Court and Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, leading human rights advocate and Professor of Law in Bangkok, who is currently United Nations’ expert on human rights in North Korea. The hearing was co-organized by the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

The South Asia hearing was the eleventh in a series of hearings held around the world by the Panel.

In two days of public hearing at the Ashok Hotel on 27-28 February 2007, the Panel heard testimonies from present and former state officials, leading lawyers, senior retired judges, journalists, and national and international civil society organisations. Participants came from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

Following the public hearing, on 1 March, the Panel members held private meetings with senior government representatives in New Delhi, including Home Minister S.V Patil and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, special advisor to the Prime Minister.

On 2 March 2007, the Panel held a press conference at the Press Club of India to share its conclusions with the media.

Please see below the press release issued by the Panel on 2 March 2007 and the summary of the hearing.

Press Release of 2 March 2007

EJP South Asia Hearing Summary

Pakistan national hearing

The Panel held a two-day public hearing in Islamabad on 5-6 March 2007 to examine and assess the responses of Pakistan to the threat of terrorism and its impact on human rights and the rule of law. The hearing is the second part of the Panel’s study of South Asia’s responses to terrorism.

The Panel was represented by its Chair, Justice Arthur Chaskalson and Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn. The hearing was hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an affiliate of the ICJ.

In two days of public hearing, the Panel heard testimony from a wide range of actors, including leading lawyers, academics, national and international human rights organisations, and members of the public affected by terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Following the public hearing, on 7 March, the Panel members held private meetings with senior government representatives in Islamabad, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

More information on the hearing in Pakistan can be found in the press release of 7 March 2007 below.

Press Release of 7 March 2007