Islamabad [Pakistan], May 1: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), in its annual report released on Wednesday, has highlighted a disturbing erosion of democratic norms, civic freedoms, and human rights across the country in 2024. Titled “State of Human Rights in 2024,” the report presents a stark account of state overreach, lawlessness, and the growing role of undemocratic forces.
Key Findings:
- Terror-Related Fatalities: Over 2,500 deaths from terror incidents, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, marking a sharp surge in militant violence.
- Vigilante Violence: At least 24 people were killed by mobs, some under blasphemy-related accusations in Swat and Sargodha.
- Enforced Disappearances & Extrajudicial Killings:
- 379 new enforced disappearance cases officially recorded.
- 4,864 police encounters in Punjab and Sindh.
- Two extrajudicial killings of individuals accused of blasphemy.
HRCP chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt criticized the 2024 general elections, alleging electoral manipulation and the subsequent legislative overreach by the government to suppress dissent. Former chairperson Hina Jilani emphasized that enforced disappearances “can never be justified, even in war or insurgency.”
Targeting of Minorities and Dissent:
- Blasphemy Charges: Over 1,200 individuals imprisoned, many allegedly entrapped via social media.
- Ahmadiyya Community: Reported six targeted killings, along with desecration of over 200 graves and places of worship.
- Ban on Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, arrests of journalists, and enforcement of Section 144 to stifle peaceful assembly reflected the regime’s intolerance for criticism.
Institutional & Legal Concerns:
- Constitutional Overreach: The 26th Amendment was flagged for infringing on judicial independence.
- Judicial Delays: Over 2.4 million cases remained pending across the country’s courts.
Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities:
- Workplace Hazards: At least 172 deaths among miners, sanitation workers, and polio workers.
- Gender-Based Violence:
- 405 honour killings
- 1,641 domestic murders
- 4,175 rape cases
- 1,630 incidents of child abuse
On Refugees and Free Expression:
- The forced repatriation of Afghan nationals drew international concern for violating norms of consensual and dignified return.
- Social media platform X remained banned, and journalists covering sensitive topics faced arrest and intimidation.
HRCP Co-Chair Munizae Jahangir criticized laws shielding public officials from criticism, warning they are being used to silence the citizenry. Secretary-General Harris Khalique added that Pakistan’s refusal to allow lawful dissent continues to isolate it from democratic norms.
The report concludes that Pakistan in 2024 faced a crisis of democracy and human rights, fueled by growing authoritarianism, intolerance, and impunity.