News
Sunday, January 23, 2011
No law should be applied in a discriminatory manner: US envoy
* Posner says Pakistan to decide on blasphemy law
* Hails Pakistan’s desire to move forward to address medium- and long-term challenges
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Michael H Posner said on Saturday that no law should be applied in a discriminatory way or used to settle personal disputes.
Participating in a Radio Roundtable discussion on Saturday, he said it was for Pakistan to debate and decide about the blasphemy law. He also condoled with the family of late Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.
Posner appreciated Pakistan for its openness and desire to move forward in a practical way to address medium and long-term challenges facing the country.
The discussion was hosted by Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Director General Murtaza Solangi.
In response to repeated questions about whether drone attacks constitute human rights, Posner said he would not comment on military tactics or operations.
Asked why the United States was applying different standards in Indian-held Kashmir and Palestine, the US official said Washington encouraged Pakistan and India to work together to discuss and resolve the issue.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Posner discussed issues related to human rights and enhancement of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Briefing the assistant secretary of state on multiple challenges facing Pakistan, especially in the context of extremism and terrorism, the foreign secretary said that Pakistan was undergoing transformation in terms of promoting a transparent and democratic society.
In this regard, the role being played by country’s rapidly growing civil society, robust media and independent judiciary was significant, he said adding the government and the people of Pakistan were committed to strengthening democracy, and the strides made in the last three years were important to strengthen democratic norms and culture in the country. Asked about delay in realisation of the plan about reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs), he said there were challenges and an internal debate is continuing in the United States.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk