Press release Sedition laws must be abolished Lahore, 4 February 2023. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses its deep concern over the spate of recent arrests and cases filed against opposition leaders and journalists on charges of sedition, treason, and making statements conducing to ‘public mischief’ and incitement to violence. The sheer

Press release Amendments to blasphemy laws create further room for persecution Lahore, 20 January 2023. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses its deep concern over the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023, which was passed unanimously in the National Assembly on 17 January. While the stated aim of this bill is to curb

Press release HRCP announces Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim Human Rights Fellowship Lahore, 7 January 2023. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is pleased to announce the inaugural Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim Human Rights Fellowship, sponsored by his family. A founding member of HRCP, Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim (1928-2020) remained deeply committed to democratic ideals all his

Press release State must heed Gwadar’s legitimate grievances 2 January 2023, Lahore. Having closely followed the recent mass demonstrations in Gwadar, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) believes it is now imperative for the state to shed its tacit policy of relegating Balochistan to second-class status. While HRCP deplores the violence that left

Press release HRCP concludes national roundtable on climate justice, calls for building a new social contract Islamabad, 7 December 2022. A national roundtable on climate justice held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for building a new social contract rooted in climate justice – the concept that climate change is an

Press release HRCP, PMHA call for transformative solutions for inclusive development of PLWDs Islamabad, 3 December 2022. At a policy dialogue held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Potohar Mental Health Association, human rights defenders have called for robust legal and administrative measures to ensure the welfare of persons living with

Press release HRCP launches fact-finding report on rights violations in Balochistan’s coal mines Quetta, 24 November 2022. In its fact-finding report titled Beneath the surface: Rights violations in Balochistan’s coal mines, launched in Quetta earlier today, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has underscored the alarming frequency of mining-related deaths and injuries in the

Press release HRCP conference calls for constitutional amendment to protect local governments Islamabad, 23 November 2022. A national conference held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in partnership with the Friedrich Naumman Foundation for Freedom (FNF), has called for a constitutional amendment to protect the form and tenure of local governments and to ensure that fiscal decentralisation enables local bodies to

Press release HRCP dissatisfied with court ruling in Perween Rehman case Lahore, 21 November 2022. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses its dissatisfaction over the acquittal of all five persons accused of the murder of Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) director Perween Rehman. Given the gravity of the crime and the substantial evidence

Press release HRCP calls on state to hasten rehabilitation of flood-affected Lahore, 30 October 2022. On concluding its 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM), the general body of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the federal and provincial governments to accelerate their efforts to rehabilitate the thousands of people who have lost their homes