PESHAWAR: The representatives of various civil society organisations have voiced concerns over curtailing the powers of National Commission for Human Rights through amending its rules of business.

They demanded of the federal government to ensure administrative and financial autonomy of the commission as well as restoration of its previous status.Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club under banner of Civil Society Working Group on Tuesday, Legal Aid and Awareness Services director Rakhshanda Naz said that Federal Ministry of Human Rights attempted to take administrative control of NCHR by amending its rules of business.

Flanl(ed by Qamar Naseem, Zar Ali Afridi, Radish Tony, Shahidullah, Nazra Syed, Shafaq Gigyani and Taimoor Kamal, she said that the move was in violation of National Commission for Human Right Act, 2012.

Ms Naz said that the relevant committee of Senate was not allowed to monitor the affairs of NCHR. She said that administrative and financial autonomy of the commission could not be ensuredafter amending the Act.

Ms Naz said that funds were not released to the commission on regular basis that were affecting its affairs. She said that UN Committees had recommended to the government to strengthen independence of the right-based institutions in the country.

The rights activist said that parliament was an appropriate forum for monitoring the performance of NCHR. She demanded independence and autonomy of NCHR. She also stressed the need for effective coordination between parliamentary committees and NCHR on important human rights issues.

Speaking on the occasion, Qamar Naseem of Blue Veins also sought administrative and financial autonomy of NCHR. Hedemanded of federal government to ensure independence of NCHR as guaranteed under National Commission for Human Right Act, 2012.

Mr Naseem said that shortage of funds would hamper affairs of the commission. He said that NCHR was set up to promote and protect human rights as provided in the Constitution.

Fata NGOs Consortium chairman Zar Ali Afridi said on the occasion that performance of NCHR was poor as it didn`t take notice of human rights violations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

He called for giving more independence and autonomy to NCHR to perform its obligations in an efficient manner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as in Fata.