|PIC1|GENEVA - United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said on Monday she was alarmed over the suspension of rights and imposition of a state of emergency in Pakistan by President Pervez Musharraf.
She also called on the Pakistani authorities to clarify the status of lawyers and rights activists detained or placed under house arrest, including U.N. special investigator on freedom of religion and belief, Asma Jahangir.
"A state of emergency should only be used to deal with a dire security threat to the nation, not to undermine the integrity and independence of the judiciary," said Arbour, a former Canadian supreme court judge.
The authorities, she said, should ensure "that no one is detained for the peaceful exercise of their political beliefs".
-
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
-
The mystery of the Wise Men
-
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations
-
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
-
Pro-life campaigner who silently prayed in abortion clinic buffer zone criminally charged
-
What we don’t know about Christmas
Most Popular
related articles
Suicide bus bomber fuels rumours Musharraf to delay elections
Suicide bus bomber fuels rumours Musharraf to delay elections
Pakistan's Musharraf to invoke emergency rule
Pakistan's Musharraf to invoke emergency rule
News
A brief history of Christmas bans
These days, Christmas is hard to miss and nearly impossible to avoid. But at various times it has been banned in different countries, including Britain. This is the story …
Organisers of Christmas evangelistic campaign thrilled with impact
Organisers of this year's Shine Your Light Christmas evangelistic outreach have been "overwhelmed" by the response from local churches.
Reach out to others, says Salvation Army, as 1.8 million Brits set to spend Christmas Day alone
People are being urged to reach out after polling suggested 1.8 million UK adults will spend Christmas Day alone, even though they do not want to.
Another Christmas in hardship for Gaza church
For Christians sheltering in the Holy Family parish in Gaza, there will be few comforts this Christmas.