Huge Ceremony Helds at Al-Hamra to Observe Human Rights Day

10/12/19

A spectacular event was organized on the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights in Alhamra Hall, Lahore on Tuesday, organized by the Provincial Department of HR&MA. Ceremony started with the recitation from the Holy Quran while the Christian Pastor Shahid Miraj made special prayer for the prosperity of the country and for the freedom of occupied Kashmir. Director HR M.Yousaf delivered welcomed note and highlighted the importance of the International Day of HR. all the speakers in their speeches condemned the continued brutality in occupied Kashmir. Children of Search for Justice presented a chartered of-demand, which was included free and compulsory education in Punjab province, elimination of child labor, prevention of forced marriages, more work on children's welfare and formation of provincial commission for child rights. The special children from the Center of Darthee received a great response from the audience by presenting outstanding performance on the song: Be cruel and also peaceful. All the participants acknowledged the role of HR&MA department to celebrate the International Day of Human Rights in a wonderful way; they also condemned the worst human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. Secretary HR Tariq Mehmood in his address applauded the efforts of youth from various colleges of Lahore to highlight the ongoing terrorism in Kashmir with the help of their paintings. Minister HR&MA Ijaz Alam Augustine said in his address that the Moodi government in Kashmir is violating Article 137 for more than 127 days, which is highly condemnable. He said that today we want to convey the message from entire Pakistani nation that we always stand with our Kashmiri brothers. The minister in response to the chartered of-demand, said that many initiatives had been taken to eliminate child labor across the province, while working on more effective legislation regarding rights of women especially girls. Since the PTI government has come, more than 100 programs in Punjab have been done with collaboration of civil society and welfare institutions, a Public and Private Bill has been passed in the Punjab assembly, which is clear evidence that the situation is improving. The minister further said that today we will have to make a pledge that we will not tolerate the humiliation of humanity at all and will not only make videos of violation, will also stop the violation and for this the Punjab government always remain with youth. He said that PTI is the only party who has come to power because of youth and having desire to move forward with the collaboration of youth for the development of the country. At the end of his address, the provincial minister paid tribute for organizing the event to the human rights department and appealed to the youth to join hands with the government of Pakistan at every forum to raise issue of Kashmir's independence so that innocent Kashmiri can breathe in the air of freedom. At the end of the ceremony Minster also awarded prizes to Attiya Khadim, Khansa Sarwer from Aisha degree college on respectively got first and second positions in painting competition on Kashmir theme while Ashma Imran  received prize from Govt college Samnaabad on third position. Complimentary certificates also distributed to staff of human rights and children on special performances. On the occasion parliamentarian Sabeen Gull, Christian leader Rubina Feroz Bhatti, CE(SPO) Arifa Mazhar, ex secretary of HR&MA Arshad Bin Ahmad, Secretary HR Tariq Mehmood, Peter Jacob, leaders from different religion, representatives of civil society and welfare organizations and large number of students were present in the ceremony.