From unaddressed forced disappearances to endemic like forced marriages and rapes in Pakistan, from widespread domestic violence to the ethnic killings of Hazaras in Balochistan, from the extrajudicial killings of Pashtuns to the silencing of human rights abuses in Balochistan, from the censorship of media to the religious persecution of Ahmadi community, a climate of fear shatters the trust of people in the state. Consequently, It portrays a grim picture of human rights in Pakistan, unlike the other states that are striving hard to become staunch supporters of egalitarianism.
When probed, according to the Freedom House Report 2022, Pakistan stands 37th out of 100 in ensuring human rights which tends to be considered as a (partly free) state. It is due to the lack of government accountability on itching palms who are eager to take bribes in the cases in which people are supposed to get justice. But, people’s concerns remained unaddressed so far and so forth. Similarly, violence, abuse, and social and religious intolerance by militant organizations and other nonstate actors, both local and foreign, contributed to a culture of lawlessness which was another factor compounding human rights violations in the state and left Pakistan incompetent in becoming an egalitarian state.
Unlike the status of Pakistan regarding human rights; Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, New Zealand and the Netherlands are top-notch governments ensuring human rights to their best. The main focus of these states is mainly on ensuring the rule of law, security and safety, movement, religion, association, assembly, and civil society, expression and information, size of government, the legal system and property rights, sound money, freedom to trade internationally and regulations.
However, Pakistan is also aspiring to attain the glory of human rights. For achieving it, Pakistan established The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) which is an independent, democratic non-profit organisation. It was founded in 1987. it is one of the oldest human rights organisations in the country. HRCP is committed to monitoring, protecting and promoting human rights in Pakistan. Moreover, Articles 8-28 of the Constitution of 1973 enlights the basic human rights of the citizens, too.
Although Pakistan is striving hard to ensure human rights, it has become an elusive dream so far because of the contemporary situation of lawlessness in the state, and people are forsaken to obtain their rights.
Unfortunately, grave human rights violations are continued, including enforced disappearances, torture, crackdowns on peaceful protests, attacks against journalists, domestic violence and violence against other marginalised segments of society. However, by taking stringent remedial measures like ensuring the rule of law, freeing the press and strict accountability of government officials, the state of human rights in Pakistan can be rectified in letter and spirit.
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