ABBAS KASSAR
HYDERABAD: The Civil Society Working Group – Sindh has been formed by the civil society and rights organizations of the Sindh Province in the aftermath of the GSP+ status for Pakistan. The main objective of the group is to monitor the compliance on Pakistan’s international human rights commitments and engage with stakeholders, including the federal and the provincial government of Pakistan, on key reforms required to meet the GSP+ conditionalities.
Speaking at a press conference here the Group members including Punhal Sario, Zulfiqar Halepoto, Javed Soz, Sattar Zangejo, Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, Akash Ansari and Naubahar Wassan expressed concern over the human rights situation in Sindh. They gave a set of recommendations for the Sindh government for effective implementation of the 27 international conventions that come with the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status for Pakistan allowing duty-free exports to European market.
Unfortunately, the SHRC also continues to work under challenging circumstances including resources and capacity deficits. “We urge that the most important body responsible for implementing the human rights agenda be empowered, given adequate financial and human resources along with technical facilities to carry out its mandate independently.”
“Like other provinces,” the CSWG pointed out that a Treaty Implementation Cell has been established in Sindh to develop coordination mechanism with the federal government for compliance of UN Conventions on Human Rights as required under the UN treaties and conventions signed and ratified by the Government of Pakistan. However, the Cell continues to struggle with staff and resource constraints despite the passage of over a year since its establishment and over two years since the GSP+ was granted to Pakistan.
The Group mentioned that under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), governments have committed to ensure the overall protection of children and young people under the age of 18. However, the Sindh Province’s deficit capacity to implement the law regarding child marriage, and abolish child labour substantially infringe these protection. A Provincial Commission on Child Rights empowered with the mandate, capacity and resources to implement child rights is immediately needed.
They said despite important steps by the Sindh government over fulfilling its human rights obligations, we note with concern that the rights situation in the province of Sindh has not improved much. Honour killings continue unabated with Sindh recording highest number of killings in the name of honour since 2013-2014 (602 out 933 recorded in the entire country). Violence against the non-Muslim communities presents a grim scenario. Cases of forced conversions of young and even underage girls of the Hindu community have been consistently rising while the police and courts have been seen acting extremely irresponsibly in addressing this gross violation of human rights. Attacks on Hindu temples have registered marked increase. In 2014 alone, at least six Hindu temples were attacked. Persecution of Ahmedis is also one of the highest in the Sindh province. All this comes with a stark rise in the opening of madrassahs by radical religious groups, backed by political parties, in the province.
The Civil Society activists expressed their distress over reported extra judicial killings and disappearances in Karachi and other parts of the province. According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, out of 1,273 cases of enforced disappearances in Pakistan, 186 belonged to the Sindh province (reported in the media in Feb 2015). These abductions include political workers and those considered a threat against the so called national security. Given the fact that the avenue for seeking justice is very limited, these cases intensify the distress of the local population and add to the divide between the state and the citizens. All this has an extremely negative impact on the fundamental rights, representing serious violations of the civil and political rights of the people of Sindh.
The Group noted that in terms of social rights, access to education, healthcare and basic facilities is very dismal in the province. There are 1.8 million out of school children in the province. Poor access to healthcare is not only reported in the below-standard state of government-run healthcare facilities but also in the inability of the Extended Immunisation Programme to protect children from diseases such as polio and hepatitis. The Thar crisis is also a reflection of the inadequacy of healthcare facilities in underdeveloped areas. With infant mortality rate at 81 per 100,000 births and maternal mortality rate at 314 per 100,000, the province’s state of health indicators are one of the worst in Pakistan. The same figures for Pakistan are 78 and 276 respectively. Such factors reflect the provincial government’s non-seriousness in protecting the right to life and healthcare of the province’s citizens.
The Civil Society Group underlined the need for effective legislation to end child labour and abolition of bonded labour. “Sindh must immediately pass anti bonded labour law as it is still pending. After the 18th Amendment a number of labour laws are yet to be adopted by Sindh Assembly. The other labour laws which are pending before the provincial legislators included Factories Act, 1934; W.P Industrial & Commercial Employment (S.O) Ordinance; Shops & Establishment Ordinance; Shop & Wages Act, 1936; Compensation Act; Cost of Living Ordinance; Minimum Wages Ordinance etc. One wonders what is taking the Sindh Assembly so long to pass these important bills related to labour rights?”
The speakers expressed serious concern over deaths of children in Thar. Right to food is basic right. “We demand provincial government to take immediate measures and a permanent arrangement to ensure adequate nutrition for children in Thar and address poverty.”
The Group emphasized that after the 18th Amendment the departments related to implementation of international conventions come under the provincial governments. “Fulfillment of the fundamental rights of the people of this province is not only important from the perspective of the international conventions signed by Pakistan, but it is in the interest of securing the future of the citizens, which is the duty of the state.” They asked the Sindh government to ensure compliance on international conventions so that the GSP Plus facility can continue.
EVOLVING CONCEPTS IN PATIENT MANAGEMENT
ISRA UNIVERSITY HOLDS INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL MOOT
ABBAS KASSAR
HYDERABAD: Experts at a conference have said that responsibilities of a doctor are manifold, they are caregivers, listeners, and advocates to patients and when the need arises. They have the blessing of learning from each other and that is why they are very excited to host these kinds of conferences.
It is in this spirit that they choose the theme for the conference as “Evolving concepts in patient management”. The “2nd Annual Isra Medical International conference” was organized by Isra University Hospital (IUH) Hyderabad on Saturday.
The inaugural ceremony of the “2nd Annual Isra Medical International conference, 2016” on “Evolving concepts in patient management” commenced with the lighting of lamp by group of dignitaries, chief guest Prof Muhammad Saleh Memon, Prof Dr Asadullah Kazi, Chancellor Isra University, Prof Dr Ghulam Qadir Kazi, Vice Chancellor, Isra University, Dr. Abdul Ghani Kazi, Director, Isra University Hospital and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Isra University, Prof. Dr. Feroz Memon, Chairman Organizing committee, and Dr. Nandlal Rathi, Secretary Organizing Committee. The program was preceded and followed by the scientific presentations.
Prof Dr Feroz Memon formally welcomed all dignitaries and participants from various parts of the world, colleagues and students. He mentioned the significance of the conference and its aims about bringing together a core group of researchers from various parts of the world with a significant participation from Pakistan.
Prof. Muhammad Saleh Memon described the importance of conducting this type of conferences in the field of medicine and allied medical sciences. He motivated everyone to actively participate in the scientific sessions and workshops to get benefited.
In their address, Prof Dr Asadullah Kazi, Chancellor Isra University, Prof. Dr. Ghulamqadir Kazi, Vice Chancellor Isra University, and Dr Abdul Ghani Kazi, Director Isra University Hospital and Pro-Vice Chancellor Isra University, briefed about the importance of the selected theme.
They wished for the success of the conference and inspired participants for academically rewarding stay in Hyderabad, Pakistan
In the end, Dr Nandlal Rathi, Secretary of the organizing committee offered a vote of thanks to all. He thanked all the invited guests and participants for gracing the occasion by their presence. He also thanked Isra University Hospital for providing all kind of facilities to conduct such international conference and workshops.
In the conference, the number of registered participants has exceeded more than 950 due to its attractive scientific sessions and International level workshops.
The scientific sessions were divided into two main categories, medicine and allied and surgery & allied which were decorated with the 85 oral and 35 poster presentations of renowned international and national speakers.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the faculty of Medicine & Allied Medical sciences has also arranged one-day pre-conference workshops on nineteen different disciplines.
HANDING GOVT HOSPITALS IN SINDH TO NGOS WILL DESTROY HEALTH SERVICES:PMA REJECTS IT
ABBAS KASSAR
HYDERABAD: Pakistan Medical Association has rejected handing over government hospitals in Sindh to NGOs adding that the measure was bound to destroy whatever already exists of health facilities in the province. Addressing news conference here Sunday general secretary PMA Dr. Pir Manzoor Ali,Dr. Lala Jaffer, Dr. Gulzar Jumani and Dr. Abid Qaimkhani told media that the aim of handing over government hospital was no more than favouritism as this step is not privatlization but step towards depriving people of province of health facilities plus to grabbing the properties including precious lands, buildings and equipments of hospital to front men of Sindh government. They said the budget, salaries,equipments, accessories, machines and buildings all being public property handed to private persons under name of NGOs who have to invest not a single penny. They said the NGOs having no health experience would be made masters of doctors including those of grade 20 and para medics. They said if at any hospital or health center if there were 100 employees NGO may slash number to half and took away salaries of remaining half . They termed such kind of handing as tool of loot and plunder of national and public properties considering it as booty.They said that government has taken excuse of corruption of medical and para medical staff of government hospitals but it does not allow government to sell out health facilities and posed question if any one is corrupt who has stopped govt from taking action against him. They also said that since more than 7 years present Sindh government has destroyed the health services and minted money of billions of budged earmarked on various projects which have never given benefits to people. They said that in Thar hundreds of children have died because of dearth of medicines and of food which proves inefficiency of government. They said in big hospital incharge doctors and medical superintendents are transferred every 3 months as postings are made on bribery at higher level.
They demanded to restore the handed health centers and hospitals in their real condition which was before privatization as PMA central council has rejected the handing over of health centers; to issue notification of promotion of doctors made 6 months earlier;doctors vacancies at Sindh Public Service Commission be increased from 2400 to 5000;finance institutes in Sindh for docors be announced on pattern of KPK. They warned that if their demands were not met in 10 days the doctors reserve right to protest in whole Sindh which would continue until acceptance of their demands.