The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) today launched a damning report detailing a significant deterioration of human rights across the country in 2024. Speaking at the launch, HRCP General Secretary Haris Khalil, alongside Asad Iqbal Butt, Vice Chairperson Islamabad Nasreen Azhar, and Hina Gilani, presented a grim picture of escalating violence, enforced disappearances, restrictions on freedoms, and a breakdown in law and order.
Asad Iqbal Butt highlighted the multifaceted crisis, stating, “Human rights have declined alarmingly, leading to widespread mental distress among the population due to inflation, joblessness, and blatant violations of the law.” He pointed to the dire state of law and order, evidenced by a staggering 1166 terrorist attacks in 2024, resulting in 2546 deaths. This marks a 66 percent increase in fatalities compared to 2023, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bearing the brunt, witnessing 95 attacks and a horrifying 95.5 deaths and 96 injuries. Butt asserted that “the state has failed” in its duty to protect its citizens, citing the “Kurram battlefield” where 250 people were killed and a November incident that claimed 52 lives. Retaliatory violence further exacerbated the situation, leading to the deaths of 80 people, including 24 victims of mob lynchings.
The report also shed light on the disturbing prevalence of alleged extrajudicial killings, with 108 police encounters reported. Sindh police alone accounted for a shocking 3856 encounters, resulting in the deaths of 341 suspects. The HRCP expressed grave concern over this alarming trend.
Another critical issue highlighted was the persistent problem of enforced disappearances. The report detailed instances of individuals being “kidnapped in the nights,” with families denied access and legal provisions to lawyers. The HRCP emphasized the profound mental anguish inflicted upon the families of missing persons, describing it as an “unfortunate situation” with lasting consequences. The report unequivocally stated that “force disappearance perpetrators violate the constitution and international laws,” including the sanctity of private spaces. The failure to produce arrested individuals in court within 24 hours, often followed by the discovery of their bodies, was strongly condemned. The report acknowledged the growing movements in Balochistan and Sindh, led by figures like Mahrang Baloch and Samiuddin (both allegedly placed on the Exit Control List – ECL), raising their voices against these injustices. Political leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan have also faced similar restrictions, with eight reportedly on the ECL.
The HRCP report also raised serious concerns about the shrinking space for freedoms of speech and expression. Restrictions on internet connectivity, including the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), were noted. Journalists have become increasingly vulnerable, with 162 incidents of attacks and 6 journalists killed by unknown individuals in 2024. The HRCP reminded the state of its constitutional obligation to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of faith. The misuse of religious material for blackmail and subsequent arrests by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), often stemming from WhatsApp activity, was highlighted as a worrying trend. The plight of jailed individuals, including those facing attacks, such as the 35 incidents targeting the Ahmadiyya community and the desecration of their graves, was also documented. Tragically, six individuals from the Ahmadiyya community were killed in these attacks.
The report further condemned the alarming rise in mob lynchings based on mere allegations without verification, citing horrific incidents in Swat, Sargodha, Umerkot, and Quetta, where only the intervention of law enforcement prevented further fatalities. In 2024 alone, Pakistan witnessed a staggering 405 honor killings, with 24 allegedly involving police personnel. The increasing prevalence of cybercrimes, with 321 cases reported, mostly in Punjab, also drew the HRCP’s concern.
In conclusion, the HRCP report paints a stark picture of a deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan, urging the state to take immediate and concrete steps to address these critical issues, uphold the constitution, and ensure the safety and fundamental rights of all its citizens. The commission expressed deep concern and called for accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations.
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