Press release

Sindh government must pursue Jokhio case

Lahore, 14 April 2022. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expresses grave concern over the decision to exclude two sitting PPP lawmakers from the list of accused in the murder of Nazim Jokhio on grounds of lack of evidence. HRCP observes that this development follows closely on the heels of the pressure and isolation that Shireen Jokhio has cited as her reasons for ‘forgiving’ those accused of brutally torturing and murdering her husband last November. This seems an unlikely coincidence.

HRCP believes that Ms Jokhio’s decision was certainly not voluntary and should not be considered legally acceptable. In the present political situation, this should be a test case for the Sindh government to show that it will put human rights and justice before short-term political interests. HRCP, which has been monitoring the Jokhio case closely, considers Nazim Jokhio a human rights defender (HRD) and insists that there should be no impunity for harm to any HRD in any circumstances.

Hina Jilani
Chairperson