Panel fails to reach consensus on name of HR body’s chief

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Wednesday could not reach consensus on the nomination of the chairperson and a minority member of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR).

The Parliamentary Committee on Appointment of the chairperson and members of the NCHR met at the Parliament House to hear and confirm nominations received from Prime Minister Imran Khan and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

While members agreed on names of candidates as members from each province they decided to discuss nominations for the chairperson and a member to represent minorities in the NCHR at the next meeting.

During the meeting which was held in-camera, PPP Senator Taj Haider did not agree to the nomination for the chairperson suggested by the prime minister and the opposition leader.

A member to represent minorities at NCHR also remains to be nominated

Senator Haider, who had a different recommendation for the position, said he would have to consult his party first on the matter.

While the members agreed to nominations from Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan as members of the NCHR, the chairperson of the committee, MNA Shunila Ruth, recommended another member to represent the minorities instead of the candidate suggested by the prime minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Talking to Dawn, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz said that the committee met to discuss the nominations from the prime minister and the Leader of the Opposition only.

“We decided to discuss the position of the chairman and the member representing the minorities in the next meeting,” Mr Faraz said.

“Senator Taj Haider insisted on a candidate whose name was not among the nominations and new names could not be added. Now he wants more time to consult with his party,” Mr Faraz said.

In reply to a question, Senator Faraz claimed that the government had always been there to address the issue but it was the obstinacy of the PPP that progress could not be made on the issue.