United Nations Radio

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has wrapped up her first official visit to Pakistan saying she is deeply impressed by the historic mobilization of Pakistan's civil society in defense of democracy and the rule of law.

At the same time, however, she warns that the current judicial crisis in Pakistan risks paralyzing the new Government's ability to address other critical policy challenges.

Arbour adds that, as a gesture of reconciliation, Pakistan's Government should drop all outstanding charges against those human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and political activists who were detained during last November's state of emergency.

She says sometimes transitions of the kind currently taking place in Pakistan offer opportunities for bold and forward-looking initiatives.

She said that during discussions with the prime minister, she urged the government to join the emerging global movement towards a moratorium on the use of the death penalty and, as a first step, to considerably reduce the number of offenses for which capital punishment can be imposed in Pakistan.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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