As Pakistan prepares for its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), global attention has turned to the country’s human rights record.
Amnesty International, in its recent report, has flagged numerous violations and highlighted significant concerns over civil liberties, the rule of law, and state repression in Pakistan.
With the UPR process set to scrutinize the country’s adherence to international human rights standards, Amnesty’s findings shed light on critical issues facing the population, including the curtailment of freedom of expression, discrimination against minorities, and the persistence of enforced disappearances.
A troubling record of repression
Amnesty International’s report underscores Pakistan’s troubling track record on human rights, calling for international pressure to bring about meaningful change.
The UPR, a mechanism established in 2006 by the UNHRC, is designed to review the human rights records of all member states.
It provides an opportunity for each country to demonstrate its commitment to improving the rights and freedoms of its people.
However, Pakistan’s upcoming review is marred by a backdrop of increasing restrictions on freedoms, particularly regarding freedom of speech, press, and assembly.
According to Amnesty International, the Pakistani government has adopted increasingly draconian measures to silence dissent and suppress opposition, often under the guise of national security.
Journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists have frequently been targeted.
The report notes that both state and non-state actors have contributed to the shrinking space for civil liberties in the country.
Intimidation, harassment, and attacks on those who speak out against government policies are common, creating a climate of fear that stifles critical voices.
Freedom of expression under siege
One of the most concerning aspects of Amnesty International’s report is the systematic erosion of freedom of expression in Pakistan.
Independent media outlets and journalists have been at the forefront of this assault.
Amnesty highlights how media professionals who report on sensitive issues, such as corruption, military influence in politics, or the situation in regions like Balochistan, are subjected to threats, censorship, or violence.
In 2023, Pakistan ranked 150th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, reflecting the challenging environment for media in the country.
Journalists critical of the government or military have faced abductions, beatings, and intimidation, often with no accountability for the perpetrators.
Amnesty’s report stresses that such cases are part of a broader trend of media suppression, where state authorities actively impede the work of the press, even using legal avenues such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to control and penalize online dissent.
Minority rights: A perennial concern
Another area of significant concern raised by Amnesty International is the ongoing discrimination and persecution faced by religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan.
The report points out that despite constitutional protections, minorities such as Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims often experience social, economic, and political marginalization.
These groups are frequently subjected to violence, discrimination in employment and education, and false accusations under the country’s controversial blasphemy laws.
Blasphemy laws, in particular, have been used disproportionately against minorities, with accusations sometimes leading to mob violence and extrajudicial killings.
In some cases, individuals accused of blasphemy have spent years in prison without a fair trial, awaiting a legal resolution that rarely comes.
Ahmadis, a religious minority group declared non-Muslim by the Pakistani state in 1974, continue to face severe persecution.
They are forbidden from identifying themselves as Muslims, and their places of worship are frequently targeted by extremists.
The report from Amnesty stresses that the Pakistani state’s failure to protect minorities from violence, combined with its tacit encouragement of discriminatory practices, perpetuates a cycle of abuse and impunity.
Enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings
Perhaps one of the most disturbing findings in Amnesty International’s report is the persistence of enforced disappearances in Pakistan, particularly in conflict-prone areas such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.
The Pakistani military and intelligence agencies have long been accused of abducting individuals, particularly activists, journalists, and political dissidents, who are often held in secret detention centers without due process.
Families of the disappeared frequently spend years seeking information about the whereabouts of their loved ones, often to no avail.
While the Pakistani government has occasionally acknowledged the problem, the steps taken to address it have been minimal.
The report highlights that impunity for state actors involved in enforced disappearances remains widespread, and few perpetrators have been brought to justice.
In addition to disappearances, extrajudicial killings remain a serious concern.
In regions like Balochistan, where separatist sentiments have long been present, human rights groups have documented a pattern of abductions followed by the discovery of bodies bearing signs of torture.
Amnesty’s report calls for urgent action to address these human rights violations and ensure accountability for those responsible.
Women’s rights and gender-based violence
While the report does acknowledge some progress in women’s rights, such as the passage of the Protection of Women Against Violence Act in 2016, gender-based violence continues to be a pervasive issue in Pakistan.
Women, particularly in rural areas, face significant barriers to accessing education, employment, and healthcare.
Honour killings, forced marriages, and domestic violence are widespread, and victims often struggle to receive justice due to deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and ineffective legal protections.
Amnesty International also notes that women from marginalized communities, including ethnic and religious minorities, face compounded discrimination.
The lack of effective legal recourse and the societal stigma attached to survivors of gender-based violence contribute to a culture of silence around these issues.
International scrutiny and the path forward
As Pakistan faces its UPR at the UNHRC, Amnesty International’s report highlights the urgent need for international scrutiny and domestic reforms.
While the Pakistani government has made commitments to improve human rights conditions in the past, the ground reality remains bleak for many of its citizens.
The UNHRC review offers an opportunity for the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its human rights record and push for tangible changes.
Amnesty’s report calls on the Pakistani government to end impunity for human rights violations, protect vulnerable communities, and foster an environment where civil liberties are respected. Whether Pakistan will take meaningful steps to address these concerns remains to be seen, but the UNHRC review provides a critical platform for these issues to be addressed on the global stage.
