Equal rights as citizens, not just as minorities Islamabad, 13 December. As part of its ongoing work on freedom of religion or belief, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) held a meeting of the National Interfaith Working Group, attended by representatives of the Christian, Hindu, Ahmadiyya, Sikh, Ismaili, Shia Hazara and Baha’i communities.

HRCP investigates Kashana Home case Lahore, 3 December 2019. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has conducted a fact-finding mission in response to allegations that the Kashana Home for Destitute Girls in Lahore was being used to ‘supply’ young girls and women – ostensibly for marriage – to several senior government functionaries in

Government must not curb Students’ Solidarity March Lahore/Islamabad, 27 November. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) deplores the government’s response to the Students’ Solidarity March, being held on Friday 29 November across cities and towns in Pakistan. HRCP is alarmed by reports that students supporting the march are being harassed, facing rustication or

HRCP condemns NPC bar on journalists’ forum Lahore, 25 November: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is deeply concerned at the National Press Club (NPC) administration having barred senior journalists from entering the premises on Saturday 23 November 2019. Each week, a senior journalists’ forum is hosted at the NPC library, chaired by

Idris Khattak likely forcibly disappeared Islamabad, 20 November. It has now been a week since human rights defender and political activist Idris Khattak was abducted, allegedly by unidentified persons in Swabi. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strong reason to believe that this abduction is a possible enforced disappearance, given that the

Anti-torture legislation long overdue Islamabad, 8 November. On concluding a national consultation held in collaboration with the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said that a comprehensive legislative framework to eradicate torture and all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is long overdue. Having

State must respect teachers’ right to livelihood Islamabad, 25 October. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemns the use of force by the police to disperse a peaceful protest by teachers at D Chowk, Islamabad, on 23 October. HRCP’s fact-finding team was told that a large police contingent raided the protest camp and

Press release] Government becoming increasingly opaque Islamabad, 24 October. Speaking at the seminar on ‘Reclaiming Civic Spaces in Pakistan’ organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) today, Honorary Spokesperson I. A. Rehman has said that the government is becoming opaque rather than being transparent in its decision making and governance. On the

HRCP condemns campus surveillance Islamabad/Quetta, 16 October. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is concerned over allegations that elements associated with the administration at Balochistan University use campus surveillance videos – including those filmed by ‘secret’ cameras – to harass and blackmail students. HRCP’s recent fact-finding mission to Quetta found an alarming level

Government must protect rights of visually impaired workers Lahore, 15 October. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) supports the ongoing protest by visually impaired persons at Charing Cross in Lahore. The protestors, comprising provincial government employees, say they have been working on a daily wage basis for the last five years, which barely