ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: Renowned human rights activist and director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) I.A. Rehman on Saturday termed feudalism the biggest hindrance in implementation of fundamental rights.

“Most of the laws were made by feudal lords so they cannot make any law against them,” he said while addressing National Conference on ‘State of Fundamental Rights in Pakistan.

The conference was organised by Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP) in collaboration with Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS) and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to mark the International Democracy Day.

I.A Rehman said that the educational institutions might undertake research over the human rights issues in Pakistan. “Since establishment of Pakistan, we are still facing feudalism, casteism and denial of rights to vulnerable segments of the society i.e minorities and women”, he added.

He also underlined the importance of harmony between culture and human rights. Without correcting the mistakes made in the past, we cannot meet the challenges of present and future, he added.

Prof. Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director, HEC, said Pakistan and other Islamic countries were facing similar human rights issues.

He said that there was a need to promote culture of research and teaching on fundamental rights at educational institutions of Pakistan.Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Centre for Civic Education, Pakistan stressed the need of giving awareness of fundamental rights to society. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Chairperson Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences, in his address of welcome said that the consortium and CCEP would continue to work together on various social problems being faced by Pakistani society.

On this occasion, Civic Courage Award for the year 2012 was given to I.A Rehman for 2011 to Miss Malala Youafzai (girl of Swat) while Civic Education Award was awarded to Baacha Khan Trust Educational Foundation.

Malala Youafzai in her remarks, narrated the various challenges and problems confronted by the people of Swat during Taliban occupation. She termed pen as one of the most effective weapons to fight illiteracy and human rights violations.