State of human rights

Policymakers in Pakistan heavily rely on people’s ability to forget things quickly, which is why they usually escape accountability. This is why annual reports by human rights groups are important – reminding us of the decay in our society and the need for meaningful action. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released its annual ‘State of Human Rights’ report on Wednesday (May 8). The report highlights the human rights abuses the country witnessed in 2023, and has asked the state’s authorities to take note of the transgressions documented in the report. The report calls 2023 a year of economic suffering and says that the year “was nothing short of a human rights nightmare on many counts.” The highlight of the year was stampedes in different parts of the country during Ramazan ration drives, which killed dozens of people. Another incident that exposed the country’s dismal economic situation was the suicide case of a man from Rawalpindi, who took an extreme step due to his inability to pay back the loan he had taken from a loan app. The HRCP also expresses disappointment over the fact that, while laws have been passed to protect minorities and other marginalized groups, their implementation has been rather slow.

In fact, the report serves as a horrifying reminder of the injustices the country saw in 2023. It provides a recap of the Jaranwala case where the Christian community was deliberately targeted – their homes and churches torched. Such horrific incidents should be a wakeup call for authorities that must take steps to promote religious harmony and tolerance in society. Over the years, extremist elements have regained strength in the country, spewing hatred against minority groups to keep their hold on people intact. Such tactics, while helping certain groups achieve their short-term goals, also harm the country’s overall growth. The report also highlights incidents of violence against women and children. The case of 10-year-old Fatima Furiro who was sexually assaulted and left to die at a pir’s haveli in Sindh underscores the government’s failure to keep children safe and protected. Economic compulsions force parents to send their children as domestic helpers to rich people’s houses, not knowing that they are signing their children’s death sentences. Those who escape torture live a life of trauma and permanent disabilities. Such incidents are a shocking reminder that humans are capable of this level of brutality.

The year 2023 will also be remembered for how the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan led to nationwide protests that got out of control. The chaos led to the closure of the internet in the country for at least three days, which led to financial losses – mostly borne by gig workers. The referral of cases of protesters booked for the May 9 riots to military courts also raised concerns among human rights activists. The HRCP report also looks at the expulsion of Afghan immigrants, including the children of refugees who were born here – reminding through its documentation how war and terror leave long-lasting impacts on the lives of survivors, who are left to rebuild their lives over and over. The HRCP report essentially paints a picture of a country where there is little respect for the rights guaranteed to us by the constitution, a sad reminder of how far we have fallen and the miles that we have to cover. As a country, we need to pay closer attention to the shocking yet routine violation of human rights chronicled in the report and pressure the government to live up to the ideals of our constitution.