Govt taking steps to protect human rights: Burney

ISLAMABAD—Caretaker Federal Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney assured that government was cognizant of the human rights situation in the country and steps are being taken to protect vulnerable sections of society.
Talking to newsmen, he said the credit goes to the government that it established a full fledged Ministry of Human Rights. He said after taking charge as Minister he ordered that no function of his ministry be held in five star hotels to save money.
With this saving hundreds of women and children who were unable to get freedom after completing their sentences will be freed. The Minister said human rights week will be observed to highlight the government efforts to protect rights of the people.
He said he was visiting jails to check the condition of prisoners and facilities provided to them. He narrated an incident that when he visited camp jail Lahore he was astonished to see a nine year old boy who was held in a case of kidnapping for ransom.
The case will be sent to higher authorities with the recommendation that strict action be taken against responsible officials who held a young boy in custody. During his visits to jails, the Minister said, he gave warm clothes to women prisoners and their children. The Minister also plans to visit jails in Balochistan to distribute clothes and other items among the prisoners.—Agencies