European Parliament resolution on the human rights in Pakistan
Date: 2001-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Pakistan, arrest, democracy, government policy, human rights

C 21 E/354

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.1.2002

Thursday 5 April 2001

Calls for the content of the five reports cited by the National Catholic Reporter to be published in

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full;

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Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the authorities of
the Holy See, the Council of Europe, the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the Governments
of Botswana, Burundi, Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, India, Ireland,
Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Papua-New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Sierra Leone,
Uganda, Tanzania, Tonga, the United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

20. Human rights: Pakistan

B5-0265, 0273, 0281, 0288 and 0299/2001

European Parliament resolution on the human rights in Pakistan

The European Parliament,

A. whereas since the October 1999 coup General Pervez Musharraf has moved Pakistan further away

from the rule of law and respect for human rights,

B. whereas on 23 March 2001, Pakistan(cid:146)s National Day, many civil rights activists were arrested, among
them Nawadzada Nasrullah Khan, leader of the Alliance for the Revival of Democracy, placed under
house arrest, or prohibited from taking part in rallies aimed at protesting against restrictions on
political and civic activities,

C. whereas the total number of arrests is unknown, but may well be above 1000, mainly in Lahore,

D. whereas many detainees appear not to be held on any formal grounds and most are detained under

provisions of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance,

E. whereas these arrests took place just before the second series of local elections, in which political

parties are not being allowed to participate,

F. whereas this is the largest wave of arrests by the military authorities directed against the political

parties since the military took power in 1999,

G. whereas this action is aimed at repressing democratic aspirations and preventing the political parties

from carrying out their legitimate activity,

H. whereas this action casts doubt on the genuineness of the military regime(cid:146)s professed intention of

restoring democracy,

I. whereas the Pakistan Supreme Court has ordered the government to hold a general election no later

than October 2002,

J. whereas in his Pakistan Day message General Musharraf called for solidarity and unity and declared
that (cid:145)a social order free from exploitation, discrimination and injustice cannot be established without
the active support of the people(cid:146),

K. whereas on 20 March 2001 the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group expressed (cid:145)concern over the
harassment of political parties, including the restrictions imposed on democratic activities, processes
and institutions and the detention of persons without due process of law(cid:146) and repeated the view that
(cid:145)there was no justification for delaying parliamentary elections(cid:146),

1.

2.

Condemns the arbitrary arrests of political leaders and activists;

Urges the Pakistani authorities to release all the detainees immediately;

24.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21 E/355

Thursday 5 April 2001

3.
Calls for the re-establishment of the rule of law and democratic freedoms in Pakistan and the holding
of free, plural and transparent elections; urges the government of General Musharraf to hold provincial and
national elections in the near future;

Notes with dismay that the assertions by General Musharraf in his speech are in absolute contra-
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diction with the police actions of barring civil rights activists from attending the Pakistan Day rallies and
arresting such a huge number of civil rights campaigners;

Urges the government of Pakistan, in particular, to rescind the order which bans all political meetings

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in public places, strikes and processions;

Calls on the Pakistan military junta to ensure that individuals are not persecuted for exercising their

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legitimate right to freedom of expression;

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Reiterates its call on the military junta to stop all forms of support to the Taliban regime in Afgha-
nistan and to fight against fundamentalist groups in Pakistan while also ensuring security and equal treat-
ment for religious minorities and women;

Reminds Pakistan of the importance that the EU attaches to respect for human rights as an integral

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part of its external relations and of any cooperation agreement;

Reiterates its call on the Commission to institute cooperation programmes offering active support to

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NGOs in the human rights field;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government

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and Parliament of Pakistan, the SAARC and the Commonwealth.

21. Human rights: Rights of homosexuals in Namibia

B5-0264, 0274, 0282 and 0300/2001

European Parliament resolution on the rights of homosexuals in Namibia

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to its numerous resolutions condemning the violation of human rights, which include

the right of non-discrimination based on sexual orientation,

A. noting the orders issued on 19 March 2001 during a speech for students of the University of Namibia
by President Sam Nujoma to the Namibian police forces to arrest, deport and imprison and to purge
Namibian society of gays and lesbians,

B. noting that a year ago the Minister of Home Affairs of Namibia, Mr Jerry Ekandjo, uttered comparable

threats towards gays and lesbians,

C. noting that such appeals seem to be part of a strategy followed by other political leaders in the region

as well,

D. whereas the Namibian Constitution prohibits discrimination, but makes no explicit reference to sexual

orientation,

Strongly condemns and expresses its deep indignation at the recent outburst of homophobia within

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the ruling party of Namibia;

Considers the vilification and persecution of persons for their sexuality a violation of fundamental

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human rights;

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Calls on the President and Government of the Republic of Namibia to fully protect the rights of all its
people and to uphold the position expressed by the Prime Minister, Hage Geinob, that the human rights of
all Namibians are protected under the Constitution;