Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected what it called a “baseless” statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressing concerns over the 27th constitutional amendment.
The day before, Turk had warned that Pakistan’s rushed constitutional amendments “seriously undermine judicial independence and raise serious concerns about accountability and respect for the rule of law.”
A press release issued by FO on Sunday said Pakistan had rejected the statement “without basis”.
“Pakistan notes with deep concern the unfounded and misplaced apprehensions expressed on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the 27th constitutional amendment adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Pakistani parliament,” the FO statement said.
“Like all parliamentary democracies, any legislation as well as any amendment to the Constitution remains the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the Pakistani people,” he adds.
FO stressed that democracy and democratic methods “form the foundation of civil and political rights and must therefore be respected”.
“The constitutional amendments adopted by the Parliament of Pakistan followed the procedures laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan,” the FO statement said:
He added that Pakistan remained “fully committed to protecting, promoting and upholding human rights, human dignity, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law” as enshrined in the Constitution.
