Demolition of Hindu homes in Bahawalpur illegal, inhumane Lahore, 5 June. Following an independent fact-finding mission, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has found that the local authorities in Yazman (Bahawalpur district) were responsible for demolishing the homes of a Hindu community in Chak 52/DB. While the assistant commissioner of Yazman claims he

Abolition of PLWD job quota inexcusable Lahore, 1 June. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is appalled to learn of the government’s decision to abolish the two percent public and private company employment quota for persons living with disabilities (PLWDs), by deleting Section 459 of the Companies Act 2017 through a presidential ordinance

HRCP demands NCHR revival Lahore, 18 May. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is gravely disappointed by the government’s lack of interest in reviving the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). The NCHR has been dysfunctional since its chairperson’s term expired exactly one year ago. Neither the chairperson nor other members of the

Waziristan ‘honour’ killings barbaric, condemnable Lahore, 17 May. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemns the cold-blooded murder of two teenage girls in a Waziristan village—allegedly an ‘honour’ crime carried out by a family member after a mobile video of the victims surfaced on social media. Despite the passage of the Criminal

HRCP expresses reservations on formation of national minorities’ commission Lahore/Islamabad, 9 May. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strong reservations concerning the formation of a national minorities’ commission through a Cabinet decision based on a summary moved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. The proposed composition smacks of partisanship

HRCP welcomes government response, stands by its findings Islamabad/Lahore, 3 May. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) welcomes the official response of the Ministry of Human Rights to the publication of its annual report, State of Human Rights in 2019. The ministry’s statement recognises that HRCP has raised some pertinent issues. This augurs well for constructive engagement between

Weakest segments of society invisible, unheard HRCP issues State of Human Rights 2019 annual report Islamabad/Lahore, 30 April. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) notes that widespread social and economic marginalisation have left the weakest segments of society invisible and unheard. HRCP’s honorary spokesperson I. A. Rehman has termed Pakistan’s human rights record in 2019

Covid-19 response marred by indecision Islamabad, 23 April. With the number of Covid-19 cases rising steadily, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is alarmed at the way the federal government is handling this public health crisis. There is an absence of clarity in the federal government’s measures – a clarity without which it cannot hope to curb the pandemic and create

Safety of medical personnel must be priority Lahore, 20 April. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urges the provincial government to heed the legitimate demands of the young doctors on strike in Punjab. The country’s need for medical personnel in the midst of a public health crisis does not override their right to

Government must put people before big business Lahore, 17 April. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) deplores the recent operation in which a low-income settlement in Islamabad was razed to the ground, leaving at least 75 poor families homeless. Such incidents reflect a cavalier approach to protecting the rights and welfare of vulnerable communities. It