Press release 2026/27 federal budget ignores labour and white-collar workers 23 June 2026, Lahore. At a seminar hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) earlier today, civil society representatives concluded that the 2026/27 ‘austerity’ budget had systematically undermined low-income household welfare, labour protections, and gender equality. Moderating the seminar, economist Dr Fahd

Press release Freedom of expression, rule of law under stress: HRCP launches 2025 report 4 May 2026, Islamabad. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)’s annual report, State of Human Rights in 2025, documents a year marked by a severe contraction of civic space, the erosion of judicial independence, and deepening insecurity. The report

Press release Shrinking civic space in Punjab signals deepening democratic backsliding Lahore, 27 March 2026. A fact-finding report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has observed that the continued shrinking of civic space and systematic curtailment of rights-based NGOs across Punjab is a symptom of the democratic backsliding that Pakistan is

Press release HRCP report calls for high-level judicial inquiry into deaths resulting from CCD operations Lahore, 17 February 2026. A fact-finding report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has concluded that the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Punjab has adopted a deliberate policy of staged encounters—in many cases resulting in extrajudicial

Press release   Punjab Local Government Act centralizes power, undermines devolution   Lahore, 22 January 2026. A consultation held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to examine the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 brought together local government experts, legislators and civil society activists, who questioned whether the new law meaningfully upholds the

Press release Call for collective resistance to speech curbs at HRCP moot Islamabad, 24 December 2025. Speakers at a widely attended roundtable meeting held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reiterated the suffocating impact of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and its subsequent amendments on ordinary citizens and called for

Press release HRCP urges government to prioritize rehabilitation of flood-hit communities Lahore, 22 December 2025. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the Punjab government to prioritize the welfare of families affected by heavy monsoon floods in South Punjab, many of whom are still struggling to rebuild their homes without adequate

Press release Judicial independence, freedoms and safety under siege Lahore, 23 November 2025. On concluding its 39th annual general meeting, the general body of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) draws urgent attention to escalating threats to constitutional democracy, civic freedoms, and the safety of vulnerable communities across the country. HRCP is deeply

Joint press release Government must end smear campaign against media and NGOs Lahore, 2 October 2025. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the Women's Action Forum (Lahore), Shirkat Gah-Women’s Resource Centre, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, Simorgh, and the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) strongly condemn a recent advertisement sponsored by the

The Honorable President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari The Honorable Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar Islamabad 1 October 2025 Excellencies, Open letter: Call for immediate enactment of the National Commission for Minorities' Rights Bill The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses grave concern over the prolonged delay in enacting