Country’s human rights situation worrisome: HRCP

ISLAMABAD: The annual report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) for the year 2019 portrays a worrisome picture of the state of human rights in the country.

Launched online on Thursday, the flagship annual report titled ‘State of Human Rights in 2019,’ notes that widespread socioeconomic marginalisation has left the weakest segments of the society invisible and unheard.

The report says Pakistan has failed to protect its most vulnerable as reports of child labourers being sexually abused in mines surfaced in Balochistan, while news of young children being raped, murdered and dumped has become frighteningly common. Women continue to bear the brunt of society’s fixation with ‘honour’, with Punjab accounting for the highest proportion of ‘honour’ crimes.

Equally, Pakistan does not protect those to whom it has a duty of care such as prisoners in the country’s sorely overpopulated jails remain relegated to a subhuman level.

HRCP’s honorary spokesperson I. A. Rehman has termed Pakistan’s human rights record in 2019 ‘greatly worrisome’, adding that the ongoing global pandemic ‘is likely to cast a long shadow on prospects for human rights.’

Chairperson HRCP Dr Mehdi Hasan reaffirmed the Commissions’ distress over the gross violations of human rights committed in the Indian Occupied Kashmir since August 2019 and the imminent fallout of the situation on regional peace and stability.

HRCP’s Secretary General Harris Khalique observed that ‘last year will be remembered for systematic curbs on political dissent, the chokehold on press freedom, and the grievous neglect of economic and social rights.’

‘The 2019 report also offers standalone chapters on each federating unit and administered territories so that no area remains underreported or missed out,’ he added.

The report says numerous journalists reported that it had become even more difficult to criticise state policy.

Former HRCP chairperson Zohra Yusuf says this, coupled with the erosion of social media spaces and a deliberate financial squeeze on the media, ‘led to Pakistan’s position slipping on the World Press Freedom Index.’

The report says as in previous years, there was a steady decline in conflict-related deaths, but the number of casualties of terrorist attacks and counterterrorism operations in Pakistan is still significant at 1,444 compared to 2,333 in 2018.

A total of 107 Acts were passed by Parliament and the provincial assemblies with six federal Acts and 101 provincial Acts.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly passed 45 Acts — more than any other provincial assembly this year. Eleven presidential ordinances were rushed through Parliament, attracting widespread criticism from human rights observers. Later, these ordinances were withdrawn by the government in November.

By year-end, there were close to 1.8 million cases pending with the judiciary, as against 1.9 million in 2018. Performance of model criminal trial courts remained questionable whereas the activities of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) drew considerable criticism and was seen as being selective and highhanded in dealing with cases pursued against members of the political opposition.

The NAB received over 51,000 complaints in 2019, with a total of 1,275 corruption references at different stages of hearing.

It says while Pakistan witnessed the first-ever conviction of a former military ruler for high treason, constitutional compliance remains a major cause for concern. For instance, Article 140-A has yet to be implemented effectively, given the prolonged delay in holding local body elections in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Restoration of student unions and space for trade unions to function remains a cause for concern.

The report highlights the fact that the National Commission for Human Rights has been dysfunctional since May, pending the appointment of a new chairperson and six of its seven members whereas the post of chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women has lain vacant since February 2018.

The report also mentions that cybercrime and online harassment across Pakistan rose exponentially and over 629 women had been trafficked as brides to China between 2018 and early 2019. Prisons in Pakistan remain appallingly overcrowded, with an occupancy rate of 133.8 per cent.

The report says people continued to be reported missing’ during the year.

Religious minorities remained unable to enjoy the freedom of religion or belief guaranteed to them under the Constitution.