ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) launched its flagship annual report, ‘State of Human Rights in 2024’, on Wednesday, portraying a grim picture of the human rights landscape in the country. The report highlights democratic backsliding, systemic injustice, rising violence, and institutional neglect across multiple fronts.
Launched in Islamabad, the report draws attention to a staggering backlog of 2.4 million court cases, a 66 percent surge in deaths from terrorism-related incidents, and prison occupancy at an alarming 228 percent above capacity. With over 26 million children out of school, 4,175 reported rape cases, and 1,166 terrorist incidents and counter-terror operations, the report presents a case of government’s incompetence to uphold the basic rights.
The document provides a thematic overview of rights violations, organized under a broad range of categories, including law and justice, civil liberties, democratic development, gender and minority rights, and socio-economic issues. It highlights how legal and constitutional developments over the year have eroded democratic norms and curtailed fundamental freedoms.
Of particular concern is the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the report says that “the amendment was passed in majoritarian fashion rather than valuing a participatory democratic process, raising questions about the independence of the judiciary and executive overreach into the affairs of the higher judiciary.” Legislation like the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, which restricts the right to protest in Islamabad, and the controversial Punjab Defamation Act, are cited as mechanisms for stifling dissent and curbing civic freedoms.
The HRCP flags a deterioration in judicial independence and democratic norms. The report notes a rise in the number of pending cases in both the Supreme Court and high courts. It recalls the arrest of opposition lawmakers from within the Parliament following a PTI rally and highlights a letter by six Islamabad High Court judges alleging intimidation.
The report highlights 174 new death sentences handed down in 2024, a rise from 102 the previous year.
The report documents over 2,500 deaths resulting from terrorist violence and counter-terror operations. Karachi alone reported more than 47,000 crimes in nine months, with HRCP noting the rise of vigilante justice, including 24 reported incidents of lynching by mob. Punjab and Sindh police reported huge number of “encounters” leading to suspects’ deaths.
Prison data paints a grim picture, with 153,412 inmates crammed into facilities meant for just over 67,000. Meanwhile, over 23,000 Pakistanis are reportedly detained abroad, including hundreds in India. Enforced disappearances remain a persistent blight, with 379 new cases reported. “We note with concern that the Commission Enforced Disappearance is headless at the moment,” said Co-Chairperson HRCP Muizae Jahangir.
Elections in 2024, while relatively peaceful, are described as marred by a “crisis of integrity.” Despite this, the record election of 12 women to general seats and the participation of nearly six million more voters compared to 2018 are noted as positives.
The report highlights the continued use of Schedule Four of the Anti-Terrorism Act to restrict political activists’ movements. Arbitrary arrests, imposition of Section 144, internet shutdowns etc during protests in Islamabad, Chaman, and elsewhere are also highlighted while discussing freedom of peaceful assembly.
According to the report, freedom of expression and digital rights faced significant challenges, with 19 documented instances of internet and social media platform disruptions, including the ongoing ban on X (formerly Twitter). The report records 162 attacks on journalists, including the killing of six media workers in different regions of the country.
HRCP draws attention to the misuse of blasphemy laws, with over 1,200 people reportedly imprisoned after being tricked into sharing content deemed offensive. It shows that the women continue to suffer from endemic violence, with 405 honour killings and over 3,300 reported cases of beatings. The HRCP report also mentions statistics shared by Digital Rights Foundation which recorded 3,121 cyber-harassment complaints, mostly from women in Punjab.
For transgender persons, the year saw both progress and violence. While a transgender individual was appointed Deputy Director at Pakistan’s first Transgender Protection Centre and courts ordered dedicated polling booths for them, 13 transgender persons were victims of sexual violence.
Children were also significantly affected, with NGO Sahil documenting 1,630 cases of violence in just six months-including 862 cases of sexual abuse and 18 child marriages. Workplace safety remained neglected, with at least 124 miners and 24 sanitation workers dying in job-related incidents. Balochistan miners were also targeted by militant groups.
The refugee crisis took a harsher turn with the implementation of the government’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Balochistan saw the highest number of arrests of Afghan refugees, sparking concerns over whether deportations adhered to international standards of dignity and consent.
Pakistan’s struggle with polio deepened, with cases increasing by 550 percent from the previous year. At least 24 polio workers and associated personnel were killed during vaccination drives. Balochistan and KP were the worst affected regions.
Environmental challenges were severe, with the inclusion of the right to a healthy environment in the Constitution seen as a rare bright spot. Sindh recorded its hottest summer ever, and over 1,500 bodies were received at Edhi morgues during two weeks of June, suggesting deadly heatwaves.