PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES DEDICATED TO PARLIAMENTARY EXCELLENCE ISSN # 2414-8040 Parliamentary Research Digest VOLUME7,ISSUE 12 DECEMBER,2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Editorial Dear Readers, PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) The Nation celebrates with traditional fervor and gratefulness, the 144th birth anniversary of A Mercy for the all the Worlds & the Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, expressing their unmitigated resolve to work, Greatest Lawgiver of all times Page 01 work and work for the cherished values of fraternity, equality and liberty, which remains part of Pakistanis democratic DNA. May Allah SWT bless the proud Pakistani people a safe, prosperous and happier 2021, amin. ANALYSIS Nagorno-Karabakh 2020 War The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) continues to offer quality-oriented Page 02 legislative, research, capacity building and outreach services to the Members of Parliament and parliamentary committees to the Parliament as well as provincial legislatures. This Issue of the PIPS Parliamentary Research Digest includes analytical articles on conflict of Nagor- st ANALYSIS no Karabakh, IPU’s hallmarks of Parliament and Democracy in 21 century and parliamen- Parliament and Democracy in tary reforms in Pakistan. A paper on grave issue of child abuse in also part of the issue. 21st Century & Pakistan’s Parliamentary Reforms InshALLAH (SWT) we look forward to continue serving Hon MPs, committees and parlia- Page 09 mentary institutions to the best of our efforts and team work in the esteemed leadership of the Board of Governors and welcome feedback of our readers. Do not hesitate to send OPINION your feedback or contact for any services at [email protected] Enhancing the role of parliamentary committees: Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka Sexual abuse of children Senior Director General (Research and Legislation) Page 17 Mapping Parliamentarians Forums Upcoming Event Page 23 FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS Inside title page EDITORIAL BOARD Editor Muhammad Rashid Mafzool Zaka Sub Editor Tehseen Khalid Honorable Senator Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, President PIPS BoG and H.E Mohamed Ali Houmed, President of Djibouti Members National Parliament and Acting Chairman of the African Union Parliament signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, January 01, 2021 Fakiha Mahmood Muhammad Rizwan Manzoor FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS Cases of Violations of Human Rights Registered on MoHR Helpline Qaiser Iqbal, Librarian & Areeb Shirazi, Young Parliamentary Officer Information Center, PIPS A. Cases of violations of Human Rights registered on MoHR helpline across Pakistan during 2017-2019 On February 11, 2020, at the 295th session of the 17th Parliamentary Year of the Senate of Pakistan, the Honorable Minister of Human Rights presented a breakdown and comparative analysis of cases of human rights violations registered on the MoHR Helpline, Year 2017-2019, across the country and provinces. 22,710 10,337 4,571 2017 2018 2019 Figure 1 Total number of cases of human rights violations registered with the MoHR helpline across country during 2017-2019 Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services 2020 PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) A Mercy for the all the Worlds & Greatest Lawgiver of all times 1. – Al Quran Surat Al-Anbiyaa (Surah of the Prophets): Ayah 108 And We have not sent you [Prophet Muhammad] but as a Mercy to all Worlds. 2. Al Quran Surat Al – Saff: Ayah 06 And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic. 3. Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal in his famous Rubai states (see English translation): You are the Self sufficient (un-wanting) and Independent from both the worlds and I am a miserable faqeer. At the Day of Judgment (Doomsday) please accept my excuse and forgive me If You want to open my record and it is inevitable unavoidable Please keep it hidden from the sight of Beloved Prophet Mustafa (saw) 4. Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in a Radio Broadcast Talk to People of Australia, 19 February, 1948 states: We follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in right, dignity and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special and very deep sense of unity. 5. President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his Party Meeting (2020): "What is the problem of this person called Macron with Muslims and Islam? Macron needs treatment on a mental level." What else can be said to a head of state who does not understand freedom of belief and who behaves in this way to millions of people living in his country who are members of a different faith?" 6. Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Arden, donned in black dress and headscarf gave a short speech in which she reads out a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi WaSsalaam), March, 2019: “According to Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Salaam), the believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain,” she said. “New Zealand mourns with you, we are one,” she added. 7. President Elect of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., in his speech to Muslim Americans (Nov., 7, 2020) said: “A Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructs: Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then let him change it with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart.” Biden added: "So many of you are living this teaching in your own communities every day, joining your faith and your principles with the American principles that are consistent, actions that [make] life better for your families, for your neighbors through service, advocacy work, and preaching peace." PIPS Parliamentary Research Digest- Volume: 7, Issue: 12 Page 1 Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services 2020 ANALYSIS Nagorno-Karabakh 2020 War Fakiha Mahmood Deputy Director (Research), PIPS Abstract The South Caucasus region, which links Asia with Europe, went through the second major war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh from September to November 2020. The first war broke out between the newly independent states carved out of the former Soviet Union during early 1990s. Situated within the geographical limits of Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh became a conflict zone owing to its majority ethnic Armenians who rejected the Azeri control over their territories and got assistance from Armenia in their political endeavors. Though often seen as a frozen conflict in the outside world, Nagorno- Karabakh continued to boil over the course of three decades, thereby threatening the peace and security of the entire region. The decisive war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in and around Nagorno-Karabakh has changed three decades old status quo in favor of Azerbaijan. The liberation of significant part of occupied territories has ushered in a new era, hopefully, of peace and stability for the South Caucasus region. Though the successful implementation of the ceasefire agreement continues to remain a challenge, the shift in the balance of military power in the disputed territory has certainly become a reality which is difficult to change at least in the near future. 1. Introduction The South Caucasus region, which links Asia with Europe, went through the second major war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region from September to November 2020. The first war broke out between the newly independent states carved out of the former Soviet Union during early 1990s. Situated within the geographical limits of Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh became a conflict zone owing to its majority ethnic Armenians who rejected the Azeri control over their territories and got assistance from Armenia in their political endeavors. Though often seen as a frozen conflict in the outside world, Nagorno-Karabakh continued to boil over the course of three decades, thereby threatening the peace and security of the entire South Caucasus region. Much of the foreign and security policies of both the contending states remained pegged with this conflict. During the course of the first Karabakh war, the United Nations Security Council adopted four subsequent resolutions in 1993 which termed Armenia an aggressor and recognized the disputed territory as part of Azerbaijan demanding immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories. The Minsk Group established in 1992 under the rubric of Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) led the peace process over the course of decades. It was co-chaired by France, Russia and United States. The peace overtures did not remain confined to the Minsk framework as various other actors and stakeholders including Iran and European Union intervened to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Unfortunately, these efforts could not culminate into a breakthrough, and the disputed areas remained a theater of tension between the contending parties. The conflict escalated in late September 2020 which took the shape of full scale war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It came to an end with the pronouncement of the ceasefire agreement facilitated by Russia on November 10, 2020. The war ended the thirty years stalemate with the liberation of occupied territories from Armenian control as Azerbaijan announced a decisive victory. Though Azerbaijan had accumulated significant military capabilities over past few years, the remarkable Turkish support played instrumental role in setting the direction of war. Turkey minced no words to find a midway between the contending parties. The leadership in Ankara termed Armenia an aggressor and continued to insist on its withdrawal from the occupied territories.