Concerns About Human Rights And Law Enforcement In The Province Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Are Raised By The Pakistan Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concerns over the human rights and law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In a press statement HRCP said that in the absence of any subsequent provincial election, the citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained unrepresented in the local government throughout the year with, not a single piece of legislation enacted in 2023.
Commenting on the law and order situation in the province, the rights body alleged that over 160 policemen, 70 military personnel, 60 civilians, and more than 170 alleged militants were killed in dozens of targeted militant attacks and security operations in 2023. Attempting to address the situation, Pakistan forcibly deported over 1.5 million documented and 0.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants from the province.
The report also highlighted the staggering number of out of school children in the province. As per the report, at least 4.7 million children were out of school, including at least 66 per cent girls.
HRCP cited a report from the Digital Rights Foundation, which stated that 112 complaints related to cyber harassment and violence against women were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.