By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Parliament (EP) is urging the new Pakistani government to “take adequate steps” towards the improvement of the human rights situation in Pakistan.
The EP in its draft annual report on human rights situation in 2008 in the world and adopted by its foreign affairs committee here on Tuesday notes that the EU is committed to support the strengthening of democratic institutions in Paksitan.
It calls on the Council and the European Commission to support the movement for democracy started by the judiciary and the bar, particularly by extending invitations to some of their representatives, including the reinstated supreme court judge Iftikhar Choudhury.
The report stresses the need for human rights “to be one of the EU’s main priorities within the framework of continuing dialogue with Pakistan.”
The EU parliament wants greater attention on respect for basic human rights, in particular political rights, “in the negotiation and implementation of bilateral or regional trade agreements, even those concluded with important trading partners.”
“It is necessary to respect the human rights clauses in the agreements signed by the EU and its third-country partners,” stresses the draft text.
The report calls on the EU to move towards a coherent policy to uphold and promote human rights around the world, and stresses the need to conduct such a policy more effectively.