Islamabad, May 5: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed grave concerns on Monday regarding the continuous decline of civil liberties in the country over the past year. The independence of the judiciary has weakened, and insecurity has increased.
In its latest report, “State of Human Rights 2025,” the HRCP highlighted that freedom of expression has been significantly suppressed in Pakistan this year. This suppression has had a major impact on the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
The report noted with alarm that legal and institutional methods to stifle dissent have been increasingly employed. Amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and the use of laws concerning treason and anti-terrorism have targeted journalists, political activists, and lawyers. Cases of intimidation, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on movement have created an atmosphere of fear, preventing individuals from speaking out and leading to the silencing of human rights violations.
The HRCP reported that amendments to the anti-terrorism law in 1997 have granted law enforcement agencies and even the military in Balochistan the authority to detain individuals without charges and outside judicial oversight for up to three months. This has heightened the risk of arbitrary arrests and undermined citizens’ freedoms and legal rights.
The report also highlighted a decline in the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan, particularly following the 27th constitutional amendment, which altered the process of judicial appointments and increased government influence.
According to the report, several significant court rulings in 2025 further restricted democratic space. These rulings included allowing military trials for ordinary citizens and denying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) access to reserved seats in 2024.
The report indicated that security-related challenges have exacerbated human rights violations. The impacts of extremism and anti-terrorism operations have been most severe in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where both civilians and security forces have suffered significant losses.
Enforced disappearances, fake encounters, and collective punishment continue to be reported. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, religious minorities, and the transgender community, still face violence and discrimination, often without adequate access to justice.
Particularly, workers in mines and sanitation employees remain at risk of accidents, with little progress made in improving their safety.
The report also noted that climate-related disasters, especially in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan, have resulted in numerous fatalities and significant infrastructure damage. The government’s response has largely been limited to immediate actions, with insufficient focus on long-term solutions.
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