Civil society organizations (OSC) in Pakistan is currently undergoing one of the most difficult periods in the history of the country. Any CSO which advocates human rights or aware of the constitutional guarantees guaranteed by the supreme law of Pakistan – the Constitution – is likely to deal with harassment and intimidation.
The Pakistan Human Rights Commission (HRCP) is one of those organizations that has worked tirelessly to promote human rights in Pakistan for almost four decades. Founded at the oppressive era of the military dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq in 1986, the HRCP owes a large part of its creation to the efforts of Asma Jahangir.
It was supported by a crowd of pillars of the Pakistani civil society, notably Afrasiab Khattak, Dr Mehdi Hasan, Dr. Mubashhir Hasan, Hina Jilani, Hussain Naqi, IA Rehman, Iqbal Haider, the judges Dorab Patel and Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, among others – all personal and professional records.
The HRCP remained an independent, non -political and non -profit body. Its scope extends over a wide range of civil, cultural, economic and political rights. Thanks to regular research missions and in -depth research, she constantly monitors and documents human rights conditions across the country.
He operates strictly in the constitutional framework of Pakistan, raising his voice so necessary to defend fundamental freedoms. He also aligns his work on international human rights conventions and the treaties that Pakistan is forced to maintain.
Now checking its 80th year as an independent state, Pakistan should have confidence and maturity to support institutions and individuals working for the public good. However, the increase in marginalization and systemic discrimination against vulnerable communities has put enormous pressure on national unity. The expansion of class disparities has left almost half of the uncertain population of their next meal. The HRCP attracts these urgent problems, ensuring that the State remains informed – not only of what is happening at the borders, but also in the daily life of citizens across the country.
Whether it is to deal with gender and racial discrimination, religious and sectarian divisions, ethnic conflicts, disability rights or sexual orientation, HRCP seeks to be the voice of the voiceless. Or, as Arundhati Roy says, he gives a voice to those whose voices have been systematically suppressed by the powerful.
In Pakistan, exclusion is widespread, making vulnerable communities even more marginalized. The HRCP is held with children, farmers, religious minorities and survivors of mistreatment. Its annual reports of the State of Human Rights are among the most credible and complete assessments of rights and freedoms in the country, respecting nationally and international.
The HRCP also publishes a monthly lurdou newsletter, Jehd-E-Haq, which reaches thousands of readers in printed and digital formats. Few human rights organizations in Pakistan maintain operational offices in eight cities – from Gilgit to Karachi. In dozens of districts, hundreds of volunteers spend their time and energy to maintain the informed HRCP. Hundreds of more active members proudly associate themselves with this vital watchdog.
On the international level, the HRCP is a founding member of the South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) and an active participant in the International Human Rights Federation (FIDH). It is also affiliated with global networks such as the World Against the Death Pinnalty coalition, the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development and the global network of democratic electoral monitors.
Since 2010, the HRCP has organized a special consultation status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its members of the Council, notably Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani, were special rapporteurs and UN representatives on the main human rights panels for Palestine and Sri Lanka.
However, there have recently been concerns concerning attempts to restrict the commission.
The HRCP has long expressed its alarm in the face of the increasingly hostile environment for human rights defenders in Pakistan. As a life member of the HRCP, I personally attended a series of arbitrary and illegal actions that hinder the organization’s ability to fulfill its mandate. Although the CSOs have always been monitored here, a recent overhang has intensified. People claiming to represent various agencies have disrupted HRCP events, often demanding a non-objection certificate (NOC) even for indoor meetings.
It is unprecedented. There has never been a legal obligation for CNOs for interior gatherings, but suddenly such requests have become routine. Pakistan can be one of the few countries where citizens are systematically requested by CNOs and identity cards photocopies, often subjecting hundreds during a lifetime. Now, this bureaucratic paperwork form – more nuisance than necessity – is under armament.
HRCP officials even appeared on national television to condemn harassment. A high -level consultation in Islamabad on activism and the impact of terrorism on human rights had to be canceled. Likewise, a round table in Gilgit on the rights of local communities on natural resources has also been obstructed. Government services and local legislators had confirmed their participation in the two events.
In Pakistan, the staff and HRCP members have faced harassment several times. In 2024, the HRCP headquarters had its electricity meter withdrawn, and a bank frozen the HRCP account, citing a banking directive of the State – to deny later the existence of such an instruction when it is brought before the court.
The State must respect the freedoms of assembly, association, expression and movement of association, expression and movement. The limited number of human rights defenders in Pakistan must be authorized to work without fear or interference. The undue obstruction of the CSOs reflects a disturbing paranoia which permeates the corridors of power. While Pakistan is approaching its 80th anniversary, it is high time that its institutions began to maintain the rights of all citizens and organizations.
All nations should prioritize the well-being of their people. A tolerant and inclusive society must be the ultimate goal. Currently, exclusion is endemic; What we need is greater inclusion and justice.
HRCP work deserves recognition. Its 2024 report, for example, highlights the erosion of democratic standards and the rule of law. The state probably finds such uncomfortable criticisms, especially when the HRCP draws attention to the weakening of parliamentary institutions or the deterioration of the security situation in regions like Kurram.
The HRCP also condemned prolonged road closures and food disturbances that have led to humanitarian crises. It is a call for more civic freedoms, better governance and improving law and order is appropriate and essential. Civil society organizations play a vital role in ensuring Pakistan’s political and social stability, and they must be authorized to operate without industrial restrictions.
HRCP has expressed the dangerous abusive use of blasphemy accusations that lead to the violence of the crowd and vigilant. It is precisely this courageous position and based on principles that makes HRCP so essential.
The government and the state would do well to keep their hands out of the HRCP. The removal of the dissent and the duty of duty will only create suffocating silence. This is the last thing this country needs or deserves.
The writer holds a doctorate from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He publishes @naazirmahmood and can be reached: [email protected]
Warning: The points of view expressed in this play are the own writers and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PK Press Club.TV.
Originally published in the news
