Ambassador to the European Union (EU) delegation to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Bertil Wigemark expressed his concerns over the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty, and the state of women’s and minority rights in the country. Ambassador Wigemark was met by his counterpart Additional Secretary to Europe Nadeem Riyaz. The two delegations convened today in Islamabad for the First Pakistan-EU Local Human Rights Dialogue which was held under the framework of the Pakistan-EU Joint Commission. The commission aims to oversee the implementation of the Pakistan-EU Five-Year Engagement Plan proposed in 2012. The plan focuses on promoting cooperation between the two regions by cultivating a partnership based on shared values and priorities. Pakistan is a signatory to three important conventions that “affirm the right to fair trial, prohibit the death sentence for crimes committed by persons under 18 years of age and require prompt and impartial investigation where there is reasonable ground to believe that torture has been committed”. The resolution clearly stated that implementation of these resolutions “is a requirement under the GSP Plus scheme”. The GSP Plus scheme has been very beneficial to Pakistani exporters due to the market access it gives to the EU, and its renewal is very important. The review currently under way and the efforts of the commerce minister are a reminder that decisions made in haste can end up having negative consequences that cascade into other domain. The state here would do well to consider this aspect of economic interaction.
Is Pakistan ready to lose GSP Plus states in exchange for death moratorium?
