Peasants demand economic rights at HRCP convention  Hyderabad, 15 February. Over 1,200 peasants, labourers, home-based workers, sanitation workers and human rights defenders gathered at the Sindh Hari and Mazdoor Convention organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Labour rights activists, including men and women from the bonded labour camps near Hyderabad, called

Social media regulation will curb political dissent Lahore, 14 February. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is greatly concerned that the federal government has approved a set of rules designed to regulate social media platforms. Such a move – which has been made without consulting civil society stakeholders – has no credible justification.

People’s economic rights must not be compromised Islamabad, 11 February 2020. Delivering the first Asma Jahangir Memorial Lecture, organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Honorary Spokesperson I. A. Rehman warmly recalled HRCP’s co-founder, remembering her as the ‘voice of sanity and compassion’. Remembering Ms Jahangir’s empathy with the vulnerable and disadvantaged,

Empower bonded labour through unions Multan, 31 January. At a labour rights convention held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), speakers agreed that it was essential to empower workers by strengthening labour unions, abolishing the exploitative practice of peshgi [advance payment], resurrecting district vigilance committees, and raising the minimum wage to reflect the real

Arrest of Islamabad activists unconstitutional Lahore, 29 January. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemns the arrest of at least 23 civil society activists and political workers in Islamabad, during a peaceful protest held yesterday to demand the release of civil rights activist Manzoor Pashteen. There is no indication that the protestors resorted to violence at

HRCP marks Day of the Endangered Lawyer Lahore, 24 January. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) held a roundtable consultation at its secretariat to mark the tenth annual Day of the Endangered Lawyer, the focus of which is Pakistan this year. The consultation was attended by members of bar councils and associations, and

Sanitation workers’ conditions linked to suicide attempts Lahore, 19 January. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is alarmed by reports of increasing suicide attempts among sanitation workers. Our sources allege that arbitrary layoffs and the non-payment of wages have continued for months. This is taking a brutal toll on a section of the

Where is the sovereignty of Pakistan’s citizens? HRCP Islamabad, 14 January. At a seminar held by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on constitutionalism and human rights, a high-profile panel of human rights defenders discussed a way forward for Pakistan to progress as a democracy. The panel included HRCP Honorary Spokesperson I. A.

Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin Ebrahim: An irreparable loss Karachi, 7 January. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) deeply mourns the passing of Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim. He was one of HRCP’s founder members and served on the Commission’s first Council. An eminent jurist and human rights defender, he espoused the spirit of the

Parliament must not legislate on Army Act in undue haste Lahore/Islamabad, 5 January 2020. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is concerned at Parliament’s attempt to hastily introduce legislation that will affect the organisation of the military through the recently tabled Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2020, the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Act and the