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RESOLUTION OF THE UN SUB-COMMISSION ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

After reviewing the situation of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan the Sub-commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of minorities adopted the following resolution :

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

Thirty-Eighth session

E/CN.4/1986/5
E/CN.4/Sub.2/1985/57

1985/21 The situation in Pakistan 81/

The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,

Guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based in Religion or Belief, 82/

Bearing in mind the Proclamation of Teheran in which the International Conference on Human Rights proclaimed that the gross denials of human rights arising from discrimination on grounds of religion outrage the conscience of mankind and endanger the foundations of freedom, justice and peace in the world, 83/

Recognizing that the independence of the judiciary and judicial review, as general principles of law of civilized nations, are an essential element of the effective legal remedy required of all nations,

Taking into account Commission resolution 1985/40 of 13 March 1985 in which the Sub-Commission is requested, inter alia, to keep in mind the relationship between violations of human rights and mass exoduses,

1. Expresses its grave concern at the promulgation by Pakistan of Ordinance XX of 28 April 1984 which, prima facie, violates the right to liberty and security of the persons, the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, the right to freedom of thought, expression, conscience and religion, the right of religious minorities to profess and practise their own religion, and the right to an effective legal remedy;

2. Further expresses its grave concern that persons charged with and arrested for violations of Ordinance XX have been reportedly subjected to various punishments and confiscation of personal property, and that the affected groups as a whole have been subjected to discrimination in employment and education and to the defacement of their religious property;

3. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to call on the Government of Pakistan to repeal Ordinance XX and to restore the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons in its jurisdiction;

4. Alerts the Commission on Human Rights of the situation in Pakistan which is one with great potential to cause a human exodus, especially of members of the Ahmadi community.

Last modified: 29 December 1995 Sultan Sial