Press Release: CHRE strongly condemns the assassination of veteran human rights activists Rashid Rehman

Centre for Human Rights Education has strongly condemned the assassination of veteran human rights activist, and Coordinator of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in South Punjab Region of Pakistan Mr. Rashid Rehman Advocate in Multan today (May 7, 2014). Mr. Rashid Rehman was getting life threats from the religious fundamentalists for appearing as a council for the accused under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws.  CHRE’s Director Mr. Samson Salamat has expressed deep condolences with his family and has declared the assassination of MR. Rashid Rehman, an irreparable loss for the human rights struggle in Pakistan.

In his statement, Mr. Samson Salamat has said that “Mr. Rashid Rehman’s assassination has once again  proved the vulnerability of the human rights defenders in Pakistan and government’s failure to provide safety and security to all those who speak for peoples rights and freedoms.”

“it is very shameful that despite open repeated threats to the life of Mr. Rashid Rehman, the state machinery responsible to provide safety and security remained unable to save this great man’s life. The cold blood murder of Rashid Rehman also shows the strong prevalence of the religious extremist groups who enjoy impunity, Mr. Samson Salamat added.

Commenting on the threatening situation of human rights defenders in Pakistan Mr. Samson Salamat said that Pakistan is and has been a difficult place where the human rights defenders face severe threatening situation which includes threat calls, monitoring of whereabouts, tapping of phone, registering of fabricated cases, forced disappearances, slander, stigmatization, and ultimately killings.

Mr. Samson Salamat has demanded that “the justice system of Pakistan should come forward and hold an impartial inquiry to expose that why Rashid Rehman was not provided security despite his repeated applications to the Punjab Police.

The killers should be apprehended by all means and brought to justice. The government should also inform the nation that how it is going to deal with the religious extremists and fundamentalists who seem out of control and are killing innocent citizens like Rashid Rehman.

Centre for Human Rights Education and all its members salute the struggle of Mr. Rashid Rehman Advocate for human rights and civil liberties. May his soul rest in Peace.

Press Information Secretary                                                           May 7, 2014