Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Ministry on Sunday rejected what it called a “baseless” statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressing concern over the 27th constitutional amendment.
A day earlier, Turk had warned that Pakistan’s hasty constitutional changes “seriously undermine the independence of the judiciary and raise serious concerns about accountability and respect for the rule of law”.
A press release issued by the FO on Sunday said Pakistan rejected the “baseless” statement.
“Pakistan notes with deep concern the unfounded and misplaced concerns raised on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed by two-thirds majority in the Parliament of Pakistan,” the FO’s statement said.
“Like all parliamentary democracies, all legislation as well as any amendment to the Constitution remains the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan,” it added.
FO noted that democracy and democratic methods “form the basis of civil and political rights and must therefore be respected”.
“The constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament of Pakistan followed due process enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan,” the FO’s statement said.
It 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.
