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B8-0060/2015
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan, in particular the situation following the Peshawar school attack

13.1.2015 - (2015/2514(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Josef Weidenholzer, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Goffredo Maria Bettini, Enrico Gasbarra, Kashetu Kyenge, Andi Cristea, Krystyna Łybacka, Richard Howitt, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Nicola Caputo, Elena Valenciano, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Miroslav Poche, Marlene Mizzi, Luigi Morgano, Michela Giuffrida, Marc Tarabella, Victor Negrescu, Viorica Dăncilă, Miriam Dalli, Afzal Khan on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0050/2015

Procedura : 2015/2514(RSP)
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Dokument w ramach procedury :  
B8-0060/2015
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B8-0060/2015
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B8‑0060/2015

European Parliament resolution on Pakistan

(2015/2514(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 

- having regard to its previous resolution on Pakistan, notably of 27 November 2014 on the blasphemy laws, of 17 April 2014 and of 10 October 2013 on recent cases of violence and persecution, of 7 February 2013 on recent cases of persecution, on recent attacks on medical aid workers in Pakistan and of 26 October 2012 on the discrimination against girls in Pakistan, in particular the case of Malala Yousafzai,

 

- having regard to the statement of EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini of 16 December 2014 on the attack of Pakistani Taliban splinter group Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) on a school in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan,

 

- having regard to the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 16 December 2014,

 

- having regard to the statement by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child of 17 December 2014,

- having regard to the statement of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzei of 16 December 2014,

– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2014 on Pakistan’s regional role and political relations with the EU,

– having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas on 16 December 2014 a group of the Pakistani Taliban splinter group Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) attacked an army-run school in north western Peshawar, killing at least 141 people;

 

B. whereas at least 132 school children aged 12 - 16, were among the victims;

 

C. whereas Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize, was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012 for campaigning for girls' education in Pakistan;

 

D. whereas senior TTP leaders said one of the reasons for the attack on the school was to send a strong message to the supporters of Malala, who advocates education for women and children as well as a "revenge" against the army's campaign against the militants;

 

E. whereas one of the masterminds of the massacre, an individual only known as Saddam, on 25 December 2014 was killed in a shootout in the Khyber tribal area with Pakistani security forces;

F. whereas the Taliban in Afghanistan, with which the TTP is closely affiliated, criticized the "deliberate killing of innocent people, women and children (as being) against Islamic principles" and expressed condolences to the attack's victims;

 

G. whereas following the massacre, Pakistani authorities lifted an unofficial six-year moratorium on the death sentence, reinstating it for terrorism-related cases, hanging six militants immediately after the events and, according to government officials, planning to execute another 500 in the coming weeks;

 

H. whereas in the aftermath of the Peshawar attack, the military apparently intensified its ongoing operations against militants in the Khyber region bordering Afghanistan;

 

I. whereas Pakistan recently ratified seven of the nine most significant international agreements on human rights, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which contain a range of provisions on the administration of justice, the right to a fair trial, equality before the law and non-discrimination;

 

J. whereas according to media reports, the government is considering the use of military courts to ensure the "speedy trial of terrorists"; whereas as a party to the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Pakistan is obliged to uphold and take measures to ensure basic fair trials and is prohibited from using military courts to try civilians when the regular courts are functioning;

 

K. whereas in the wake of Peshawar attack, Pakistan political rivals have agreed to come up with a national plan on tackling terrorism;

L. whereas Pakistan plays an important role in fostering stability in South Asia and could be expected to lead by example in strengthening the rule of law and human rights;

M. whereas the EU and Pakistan have deepened and broadened their bilateral ties, as exemplified by the five-year engagement plan, launched in February 2012, and the second EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, held in March 2014; whereas the aim of the EU-Pakistan five-year engagement plan is to build a strategic relationship and forge a partnership for peace and development rooted in shared values and principles;

 

1. Strongly condemns the brutal Taliban massacre of schoolchildren as an act of horror and cowardice and expresses its condolences to the families of the victims of the Peshawarschool attack and its support to the people and the authorities of Pakistan;

 

2. Urges the Pakistani Government to act fast and decisively to halt this violence and bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice; calls on the Pakistani authorities to take urgent steps to protect those at risk of violence due to Taliban terror and intolerance;

3. Strongly advocates against the use of capital punishment; calls on the Government to continue to apply the de facto moratorium on the death penalty;

4. Is deeply worried that in the wake of the school attack, hundreds of incarcerated alleged terrorists may be executed; calls on the Government to instead convert their death sentences into lifelong imprisonment;

5. Is concerned about an 'overuse' of anti-terrorism laws by Pakistan's security forces and judiciary; calls on the Pakistani Government to not use the anti-terror legislation to try ordinary criminal cases as reported by various nongovernmental human rights organisations in Pakistan;

6. Urges the Pakistani Government to abide by the recently ratified international agreements on human rights, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which oblige the authorities to ensure basic fair trials prohibiting them from using military courts to try civilians when the regular courts are functioning;

 

7. Encourages the Government to step up the fight against terrorism and to continue on the path of improved relations and military cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad in the fight against terrorism on both sides of the border which emerged after the recent election of Ashraf Ghani as president of Afghanistan;

 

8. Welcomes the will of Pakistan's political parties to come up with a national plan to tackle terrorism;

 

9. Calls on the European Commission, the High Representative/ Vice-President Federica Mogherini, the European External Action Service and the Council to fully commit in order to tackle the threat posed by terrorism and to further assist the Pakistan government and the people of Pakistan to continue efforts for eradicating terrorism;

 

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of Member States, and the Government of Pakistan.