Press release Karachi’s anti-encroachment drive discriminates against the poor Lahore, 23 November 2018. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is gravely concerned about the human impact of the anti-encroachment drive underway in Karachi’s Saddar area. In a statement issued today, HRCP has said that ‘protecting people’s fundamental right to a livelihood must always

Press release HRCP mourns literary icon Fehmida Riaz Lahore, 22 November 2018. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) mourns the loss of distinguished poet, thinker and activist Fehmida Riaz, who passed away in Lahore yesterday. In a statement issued today, HRCP hailed Ms Riaz as ‘a human rights defender whose writing constantly pushed

Press release Press clubs no longer safe spaces? Lahore, 13 November 2018. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has taken grave notice of the escalation in curbs on press freedom – most recently, the intrusion of reportedly armed plainclothes men into the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and the allegedly illegal detention of senior

Joint press release EU must use dialogue to push for concrete human rights improvements Lahore, Paris, 12 November 2018. The European Union (EU) must use the upcoming human rights dialogue with Pakistan to push the country’s new government to enact concrete reforms for the protection of human rights, FIDH and its member organization, the

Press release Appeasement of mob violence unacceptable Lahore, 4 November 2018. Following three days of street violence perpetrated by far-right religious-political groups – notably the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) – who opposed the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Aasia Bibi, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that it is ‘appalled at the government’s

Press release After the Aasia Bibi verdict, a longer battle Lahore, 1 November 2018. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has greatly welcomed the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement acquitting Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and sentenced to death. In a statement issued today, HRCP has said: ‘While there is

Press release Stop arbitrary curbs on HRDs’ freedom of movement Lahore, 26 October 2018. While the court has granted bail to human rights activist Gulalai Ismail, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is seriously concerned that her name remains on the Exit Control List (ECL) and her travel documents confiscated. Ms Ismail, an

Press release Government’s stance on Khashoggi affair regrettable Lahore, 22 October 2018. In the wake of the details released concerning the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that it ‘regrets the Pakistani government’s failure to take an appropriate

Press release Asma Jahangir Conference 2018: Human rights transcend cultures and nations Lahore, 14 October 2018. The Asma Jahangir Conference 2018, centering on the theme ‘Justice for Empowerment’ concluded successfully today with fiery speeches from PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak, federal minister for human rights Dr Shireen Mazari, and former

Joint statement Call for Asian countries to end the death penalty and respect the right to life Bangkok, 10 October 2018.  The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and 28 civil society organizations in Asia condemn the recent imposition of the death penalty by the Singaporean authorities on Abdul Wahid Bin Ismail, Mohsen Bin