Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt along with a delegation met Sindh police chief Javed Alam Odho at the Central Police Office Karachi on Wednesday.
Officials said the meeting was attended by DIG Headquarters, AIG Gender Based Violence and Human Rights, Sindh HRCP Vice Chairperson Qazi Khizr, Council Member Sindh Sohail Sangi, Council Member Sadia Baloch and Regional Coordinator Sindh Nida Tanveer.
During the meeting, the overall law and order situation in Sindh province, protection of human rights, rule of law, promotion of trust between police and the public and various issues of mutual cooperation were discussed in detail.
The delegation appreciated the steps taken by the Sindh police to maintain law and order and protect human rights in the province and stressed the need to promote mutual cooperation to make these steps more effective and coordinated.
The Sindh police have taken significant and effective steps compared to other provinces in terms of protecting human rights, especially women and children’s rights, cooperation with civil society and freedom of expression.
IGP Odho said that the positive steps taken by the Sindh police to protect human rights need to be further highlighted so as to increase public confidence. Timely action on the Umerkot incident, prompt progress in the case of a medical student in Mirpurkhas and effective action on the honour killing of a woman in Khairpur are practical examples of protecting human rights, he said.
Moreover, he said, cooperation with institutions like the HRCP is very important for promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the policing system. Not only immediate action is taken on complaints received regarding human rights violations, but serious and effective legal measures are also ensured, he stressed.
At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to further promote cooperation between the two institutions for continuous mutual cooperation, holding training sessions and formulating effective strategies.
