The just-out human rights report paints a grim picture of the state in Pakistan. The report shows an alarming rise in terrorism, mob lynching, and lawlessness in general. The yearbook, released recently by the autonomous Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), revealed a disconcerting erosion of civil liberties, the collapse of the rule of law, and the state’s inability to safeguard its people.
Key Highlights Report
- Surge of Terrorism:
Pakistan experienced more than 480 terror-related events in 2024, a 37% increase from the year before; the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan were the worst affected. Despite being leftist insurgencies, almost all of these attacks were blamed on a coalition of groups formed and led by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatists.
- Mob Lynching Violence and Blasphemy:
At least 24 mob lynching incidents were recorded, and being provoked by blasphemy allegations, are still being used frequently to score personal vendettas or incite sectarian hatred. The most grievous incident occurred in Punjab, where a Christian man was mobbed and beaten to death at a police station by locals while police allegedly looked on.
- Threatened Minorities.
The report, updated by HRCP in 2022, refers to the trend as an “increased atmosphere of fear” for religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis, and Shias. The report noted the still unresolved issues of forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls in Sindh and Punjab, for which few perpetrators have faced any accountability.
- Media and Freedom of Expression
Journalists and rights defenders continue to face harassment, enforced disappearances, and threats. In 2021, HRCP reported 23 instances of media suppression and 5 media-related unexplained deaths. Internet blackouts in volatile regions such as Balochistan also meant information could not flow freely.
The Interior Ministry’s response was to diminish the findings, labeling the report “selective and politically motivated.” In a statement, the ministry said: “Pakistan is firm in its fight against terrorism,” and to “safeguard human rights. Isolated incidents do not represent state policy.”,
Many, nonetheless, feel the government is unable to act decisively. Legal experts indicate that policing agencies lack equipment and are generally unwilling to confront powerful extremists and religious mobs.
In spite of the grim evaluation, human rights organizations continue to advocate for reform. The HRCP recommends:
- Immediate reform of the blasphemy laws with safeguards within the law.
- Stronger protection mechanisms for journalists and activists.
- Training and depoliticization of police.
- Independent judicial oversight on cases of terrorism and lynching.
The HRCP’s report is a wake-up call to the Pakistani government and to the world. As extreme and mob justice and extremism become entrenched in the fabric of society, Pakistan is at a crossroads that requires immediate reforms, authentic leadership, and a commitment to the simplest of human rights for all its citizens.
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