HRW’s crackdown on Pakistan and alleged human rights abuses Human Rights News

Islamabad, Pakistan – In a new annual report, Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, denounces the Pakistani government for spreading repression against dissent among citizens, journalists and opposition politicians.

HRW, headquartered in the United States, released its 2022 World Report on Thursday on the Pakistan chapter on freedom of expression and religion. women’s rights and alleged abuses by Pakistani police and security forces.

“Authorities have expanded the use of draconian sedition and anti-terrorism laws to stifle dissent, and have tightly regulated civil society groups that are critical of government actions or policies,” he says in the opening chapter of Pakistan.

“The authorities also fought hard against members and supporters of opposition political parties.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has not responded to the report’s allegations.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has been opposed to domestic and foreign rights groups since coming to power in the 2018 general election, the results of which have been seen as fraudulent by some opposition parties.

Since coming to power, the coalition government led by Khanen Tehreek-e-Insaf in Pakistan has pursued opposition to corruption in some cases, and the party has said it is holding the courts accountable for bringing the corruption of past governments to justice.

At the same time, Pakistani journalists and news outlets have reportedly been under stricter control by the government and the country’s powerful army, which has ruled Pakistan for about half of its 74-year history.

Government-critical journalists have been kidnapped, assaulted, shot or charged with sedition and other alleged crimes under the Khan government.

Thursday’s HRW report expresses an “atmosphere of fear” among reporters when it receives allegations of rights violations by the government.

“Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have reported various acts of harassment, harassment and surveillance by government authorities,” the report says.

“The government used the ‘NGO Regulation of Pakistan’ policy to obstruct the registration and operation of international humanitarian and human rights groups.”

The HRW report also focused on issues related to freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan. blasphemy laws they have been increasingly used against members of minorities and majorities of the Muslim faith.

Last year, at least three people were killed in connection with allegations of blasphemy, according to an Al Jazeera report, including a Sri Lankan factory manager in the eastern city of Sialkot. beaten to death by a mob in December.

At least 80 people have been killed in blasphemy in Pakistan since 1990, according to Al Jazeera.

HRW also documented allegations of widespread violations of the rights of women and children in South Asia, ranking 167th out of 167 countries in the global index of Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University.

“Violence against women and girls – including rape, murder, acid attacks, domestic violence and forced marriage – is endemic throughout Pakistan. Human rights defenders estimate that around 1,000 women die each year in honor killings,” the HRW report said.

The human rights organization Tehreek-e-Taliban has also stated that Pakistan, al-Qaeda, the Baloch Liberation Army and other armed groups are constantly carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces, accusing the security forces of “numerous human rights violations”. arrest without charge. and extrajudicial killings ”.