Amnesty International calls on Pak to set right its poor human rights record

London, Nov 1 : Amnesty International has stated that Pakistan should declare the dismissal of judges in 2007 as illegal, while suggesting Islamabad to take more measures to set right its poor human rights record.

Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, Sam Zarifi said, "The new civilian government which replaced Musharraf has taken some steps to improve on Pakistan's poor human rights record, but it could and should do more, starting immediately with declaring the 2007 dismissal of judges illegal."

In a press release, the AI said last year the former President Pervez Musharraf sacked 60 judges of the higher judiciary, suspended the Constitution, including the human rights protection it guaranteed, and replaced it with the Provisional Constitution Order, reported the Dawn, as saying. The new civilian government took office after general elections in February 2008 but has not done enough to improve country's human rights situation since then, the Amnesty International added.

Zarifi said, "Pakistan's leaders need to actively demonstrate that they respect the rule of law and that the government is responsible for the human rights of all Pakistanis."

"Without re-establishing its legitimacy and credibility through a strong independent judiciary system the Pakistani government will be unable to overcome the many troubles facing the country," Zarifi added.

On November 3, 2007, Musharraf had unlawfully declared a state of emergency in Pakistan.

ANI