LAHORE: (Thursday, November 22, 2012): Punjab University Centre for South Asian Studies organized a seminar on “Human Rights Situation in South Asia with Special Reference to Pakistan” at Seminar Hall of the centre on Thursday. The keynote speaker was Muhammad Yousaf, deputy director, Punjab Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department while Ms Naheed Shabbir Goraya, senior research fellow of the centre gave the welcome address while a large number of students and faculty members were also there. Addressing the seminar, Mr Yousaf said that the term of human rights was as old as humanity and achieved significance after World War II in Europe and the emphasized on individuals’ economic and social rights along with the rights of minorities, children, women and immigrants.

He said in South Asia, the rights of government and its institutions were empathized instead of individual’s rights that was why there was corruption, mismanagement, violence and social injustice. However, he suggested to follow the model European type human rights commission and also invited the researchers, academicians to mobilize people and spread awareness and force their government to constitute and enforced laws regarding human rights.