Complaints Cell

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)’s Complaints Cell began operations in 1986 when no other government or nongovernment organisation had a dedicated department for addressing complaints from survivors of human rights violations. Since then, HRCP’s Complaints Cell has striven for the redressal of human rights abuses across Pakistan.

The Complaints Cell receives more than 100 complaints a month related to private or police excesses, gender-based violence, departmental issues, minorities’ rights, forced marriage, forced conversion, enforced disappearance, cybercrime, and other human rights violations. However, we do not handle complaints related to financial assistance, asylum, relocation, property disputes, or personal disputes.

Process

Once we receive a complaint, we contact the authorities concerned to take up the case. We also have direct referral systems with the following organisations to expedite this process:

Punjab

Assistant Inspector General of Police for the Human Rights Cell, Punjab
Inspector General of Police, Punjab
National Commission for Human Rights, Lahore (provincial office)
Ombudsperson for the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Punjab
Punjab Commission on the Status of Women
Punjab Women Protection Authority
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Human Rights Centre for Women, Bahawalpur
Victim Support Centre, Lahore
Women Help Desks (Punjab Police), Multan
Violence against Women Centre, Multan

Sindh

Assistant Inspector General of Police, Sindh
Director, Child Protection Bureau, Karachi
Deputy Superintendent of Police for Administration, Hyderabad
Deputy Superintendent of Police for the Human Rights Cell, Sindh
Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh
National Commission for Human Rights, Karachi (provincial office)
Ombudsperson for the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Sindh
Police Facilitation Centre, Hyderabad
Senior Superintendent of Police, Hyderabad
Sindh Commission on the Status of Women
Sindh Human Rights Commission
Women and Children Protection Cell, Sindh
Women Development Department, Government of Sindh
Women’s police station, Hyderabad

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Gender Desk, Swat
Inspector General of Police, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Women Crises Centres, Mardan
National Commission for Human Rights, Peshawar (provincial office)
Ombudsperson for the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (also deals with inheritance issues)
Women’s police station, Swat

Balochistan

National Commission for Human Rights, Quetta (provincial office)
Ombudsperson for the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Balochistan
Women’s police station, Quetta
Women Development Department, Balochistan

Islamabad Capital Territory

Inspector General of Police, Islamabad Capital Territory
National Commission for Human Rights
National Commission on the Status of Women

Gilgit-Baltistan

Aga Khan Conciliation and Arbitration Board, Gilgit
Civil Administration and Police Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan
Human Rights Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan

For cyber-harassment, the Complaints Cell refers cases to the following organisations:

Bolo Bhi, Karachi
Digital Rights Foundation, Lahore
FIA National Response Centre for Cyber Crime, Karachi
FIA National Response Centre for Cyber Crime, Peshawar

For shelter for women and/or children, the Complaints Cell refers cases to the following organisations:

Dastak Charitable Trust (women and children), Lahore
Violence Against Women Centre, Multan
Panah Shelter Homes, Karachi
Edhi Homes and Orphanage Centres, Karachi
Benazir Shelter Home, Quetta
Edhi Home, Quetta
Abroo Shelter Home, Quetta
Noor Education Trust Shelter, Peshawar